Sixth child dies of Strep A infection as cases surge

Parents have been warned to be alert to symptoms of fever after a sixth child died from the Strep A bacterial infection amid a surge in cases of highly infectious scarlet fever.

- JANE DALTON

The UK Health Security Agency says there have been five recorded deaths in England of children under 10 within a week of diagnosis of invasive group A strep since September.

Last month, a seven-year-old girl in Wales, Hanna Roap, died of the bug, bringing the total to six. Rates of scarlet fever, which is caused by the bacteria group A streptococci, are more than four times higher than usual, with 851 cases reported from 14 to 20 November, compared with an average of 186 in previous years, official figures show.

Health experts say that during the last high season for group A Strep infections (2017-18) there were four deaths in children under 10 in the same period. The heartbroken parents of youngsters who succumbed to the bug, including Hanna and Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, four, have paid tribute to their children.

Muhammad's mother, Shabana Kousar, told the Bucks Free Press: "The loss is great and nothing will replace that. He was very helpful around the house and quite adventurous - he loved exploring and enjoyed the forest school. He also had a very close bond with his dad. He was his best friend and went everywhere with him. He just wanted to be with him."