Strep A death toll in children hits 16 as experts warn parents to be on the lookout for signs of the deadly bug

ANOTHER child has died of group Strep A, with experts warning parents to be vigilant.

It brings the death toll of children to have died with the illness to 16.

Among those who passed away are five-year-old Stella-Lily McCorkindale in Belfast, seven-year-old Hanna Roap in Wales and Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, aged four.

The latest victim was a 12-year-old pupil at Hove Park School in Nevill Road who died having had suspected invasive Group A streptococcal infection (iGAS). He has not been named.

Both UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Brighton and Hove City Council sought to reassure parents.

Alistair Hill, the council's director of public health, said it is "working closely with the school to raise awareness amongst parents and carers of the signs and symptoms" and "what to do if a child develops these".

He said he wanted to stress that contracting iGAS disease from another person is "very rare".

Most people who come into contact with Group A Streptococcal infections "remain well and symptom-free - and therefore there is no reason for children to be kept home if well".

"However, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell please contact NHS 111," he added.

Group A Streptococcus — Streptococcus pyogenes — is a bacteria that can cause mild illness.

This can include sore throats and skin infections, alongside tonsillitis, cellulitis, and scarlet fever, which is flu-like and tends to occur in children - it can be serious if not treated swiftly with antibiotics.

In rare cases, the bacteria can trigger invasive Group Strep A disease, which can prove life-threatening and even fatal.

UKHSA said that in the 2017/18 season, which is deemed to be the last high Strep A season, there were 355 deaths in total, including that of 27 children.

There have been 169 kids that have also contracted invasive Group Strep A (iGAS) this season, this compares to 431 that developed it in 2017/18.

And there were 851 cases of Group A streptococci in the week to November 20, compared to 186 on average in the same week in previous years.

While most cases are mild, the bacteria can sometimes get into the bloodstream and cause Group A strep.

There has been an increase in cases this year, particularly in children under the age of 10.

Dr Rachael Hornigold, consultant in health protection at UKHSA South East, said: “We are extremely saddened to hear about the death of a young child, and our thoughts are with their family, friends and the local community.

“Infection with Group A Streptococcus bacterium usually causes a sore throat, scarlet fever or skin rash and is passed by physical contact or through droplets from sneezing or coughing.

"In very rare cases, the infection can become invasive and enter parts of the body where bacteria aren’t normally found, which can be serious.

“We will implement public health actions including advice to the city council and school community.”

Hove Park School, the UKHSA and the University Hospital Sussex NHS Foundation Trust were approached for comment.