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| Strep A: Five-year-old girl dies from illness linked to bacterial infection | Strep A: Five-year-old girl dies from illness linked to bacterial infection |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Stella-Lily McCorkindale's school said she was a bright and talented little girl | |
| A five-year-old girl has died from an illness linked to the bacterial infection strep A in Belfast. | A five-year-old girl has died from an illness linked to the bacterial infection strep A in Belfast. |
| The Black Mountain Primary School pupil became severely ill last week and was treated at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, but died on Monday. | The Black Mountain Primary School pupil became severely ill last week and was treated at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, but died on Monday. |
| The school said Stella-Lily McCorkindale was "a bright and talented little girl". | The school said Stella-Lily McCorkindale was "a bright and talented little girl". |
| On Friday the Public Health Agency (PHA) sent a letter to parents of P1 to P3 children at the school. | On Friday the Public Health Agency (PHA) sent a letter to parents of P1 to P3 children at the school. |
| Children were asked to attend a clinic to be seen by a doctor and receive a preventative course of antibiotics. | Children were asked to attend a clinic to be seen by a doctor and receive a preventative course of antibiotics. |
| Black Mountain Primary said Stella-Lily's death was a tragic loss to the school community. | Black Mountain Primary said Stella-Lily's death was a tragic loss to the school community. |
| It said she was very popular with both staff and children and will be greatly missed by everyone at school. | It said she was very popular with both staff and children and will be greatly missed by everyone at school. |
| It sought to reassure parents it was working closely with the PHA: The school remains open but is undergoing a deep clean, and trained staff from the Education Authority critical incident response team are providing support. | It sought to reassure parents it was working closely with the PHA: The school remains open but is undergoing a deep clean, and trained staff from the Education Authority critical incident response team are providing support. |
| In the rest of the UK, seven children in England and one in Wales have died due to complications from strep A bacterial infections since September. | In the rest of the UK, seven children in England and one in Wales have died due to complications from strep A bacterial infections since September. |
| Analysis: Cases are likely to rise | Analysis: Cases are likely to rise |
| Parents need to be vigilant - that is the message from health officials and local doctors. | Parents need to be vigilant - that is the message from health officials and local doctors. |
| While those looking after children may be nervous about this unfolding story, most cases are mild. | While those looking after children may be nervous about this unfolding story, most cases are mild. |
| The UK is experiencing an outbreak because for two years during the Covid pandemic, children didn't mix as much and their systems are not immune to a number of different infections. | The UK is experiencing an outbreak because for two years during the Covid pandemic, children didn't mix as much and their systems are not immune to a number of different infections. |
| There is a warning that the number of cases of both strep A and scarlet fever will rise in the coming weeks. | There is a warning that the number of cases of both strep A and scarlet fever will rise in the coming weeks. |
| It is highly contagious so the advice from experts is keep sick children at home. | It is highly contagious so the advice from experts is keep sick children at home. |
| Parents of children who deteriorate quickly should seek urgent medical advice. | Parents of children who deteriorate quickly should seek urgent medical advice. |
| On Monday, dozens of pupils at Brackenagh West Primary School near Kilkeel in County Down were reported to be suffering from strep A infections, its principal said: Two had been taken to hospital. | On Monday, dozens of pupils at Brackenagh West Primary School near Kilkeel in County Down were reported to be suffering from strep A infections, its principal said: Two had been taken to hospital. |
| No school closures | No school closures |
| The PHA is asking school parents to be vigilant, and community groups have been contacted about affected children who may have used their facilities. | The PHA is asking school parents to be vigilant, and community groups have been contacted about affected children who may have used their facilities. |
| The PHA's Dr Philip Veal said the science did not support closing schools amidst clusters of strep A infections as this would have "limited impact" and children would continue to congregate in other settings. | The PHA's Dr Philip Veal said the science did not support closing schools amidst clusters of strep A infections as this would have "limited impact" and children would continue to congregate in other settings. |
| He said there was an increase in infections every four or five years, lasting anything from a couple of weeks to a few months. | He said there was an increase in infections every four or five years, lasting anything from a couple of weeks to a few months. |
| Such increases typically stopped naturally as the numbers of those susceptible were exhausted, he added. | Such increases typically stopped naturally as the numbers of those susceptible were exhausted, he added. |
| Dr Veal added that in a cluster of cases - for example in a school - anyone with symptoms should be assessed by a doctor, who would decide if they should be given antibiotics. | Dr Veal added that in a cluster of cases - for example in a school - anyone with symptoms should be assessed by a doctor, who would decide if they should be given antibiotics. |
| He added that there was no vaccine licensed and in regular use against strep A. | He added that there was no vaccine licensed and in regular use against strep A. |
| The current increase in cases was unusual because it is happening in the winter, rather than the spring, said the PHA. | The current increase in cases was unusual because it is happening in the winter, rather than the spring, said the PHA. |
| There were 122 scarlet fever cases of scarlet fever across Northern Ireland in November, which is much higher than usual for this time of year. | There were 122 scarlet fever cases of scarlet fever across Northern Ireland in November, which is much higher than usual for this time of year. |
| But the number of cases of invasive group A strep, or iGAS - the most serious form of infection - is 33 so far in 2022, compared to 55 in 2018 and 72 in 2019 (before the pandemic). | But the number of cases of invasive group A strep, or iGAS - the most serious form of infection - is 33 so far in 2022, compared to 55 in 2018 and 72 in 2019 (before the pandemic). |
| Dr Veal said there was no indication Northern Ireland was seeing more deaths from iGAS than in previous years. | Dr Veal said there was no indication Northern Ireland was seeing more deaths from iGAS than in previous years. |
| UK Health Minister Maria Caulfield said she was sorry to hear about the Black Mountain Primary School pupil's death. | UK Health Minister Maria Caulfield said she was sorry to hear about the Black Mountain Primary School pupil's death. |
| She said she wanted to reassure people that the UK Health Security Agency was on top of the situation and was not concerned that there was a wider outbreak than would be expected. | She said she wanted to reassure people that the UK Health Security Agency was on top of the situation and was not concerned that there was a wider outbreak than would be expected. |
| What is Strep A? | What is Strep A? |
| Most strep A infections are mild - a sore throat or a skin infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics. But some people who catch it can get very sick. | Most strep A infections are mild - a sore throat or a skin infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics. But some people who catch it can get very sick. |
| Some people develop scarlet fever, which causes a skin rash (that feels like sandpaper) and flu-like symptoms, including a high temperature. | Some people develop scarlet fever, which causes a skin rash (that feels like sandpaper) and flu-like symptoms, including a high temperature. |
| Figures show there were at least 104 cases of scarlet fever in Northern Ireland in November, up from 43 in October. | Figures show there were at least 104 cases of scarlet fever in Northern Ireland in November, up from 43 in October. |
| Very rarely, Strep A can cause something called invasive group A streptococcal infection or iGAS, which can be deadly. | Very rarely, Strep A can cause something called invasive group A streptococcal infection or iGAS, which can be deadly. |
| Strep A: Why it can be dangerous and what to know | Strep A: Why it can be dangerous and what to know |
| Invasive disease happens when the bacteria get past your body's immune defences. | Invasive disease happens when the bacteria get past your body's immune defences. |
| The government said that during a similar period in 2017-18 - the last "high season for iGAS infection" - there were four deaths in England. | The government said that during a similar period in 2017-18 - the last "high season for iGAS infection" - there were four deaths in England. |
| Watch for warning signs | Watch for warning signs |
| Dr Alan Stout, chairman of the GP committee of the British Medical Association, said the number of UK deaths among children was unusual. | Dr Alan Stout, chairman of the GP committee of the British Medical Association, said the number of UK deaths among children was unusual. |
| "The last proper outbreak was four or five years ago, there were maybe four deaths associated with that - not even direct effect, but associated with the infection," he said. | "The last proper outbreak was four or five years ago, there were maybe four deaths associated with that - not even direct effect, but associated with the infection," he said. |
| "So to get to eight or nine now [across the UK] is slightly unusual." | "So to get to eight or nine now [across the UK] is slightly unusual." |
| Warning signs of invasive disease include: | Warning signs of invasive disease include: |
| Fever (a high temperature above 38C) | Fever (a high temperature above 38C) |
| Severe muscle aches | Severe muscle aches |
| Urgent, early medical help is essential. | Urgent, early medical help is essential. |
| The UKHSA advises that anyone with a high fever, severe muscle aches, pain in one area of the body and unexplained vomiting or diarrhoea should seek medical help immediately. | The UKHSA advises that anyone with a high fever, severe muscle aches, pain in one area of the body and unexplained vomiting or diarrhoea should seek medical help immediately. |
| A strep A infection becomes dangerous when a child suddenly deteriorates, deputy chairperson of the Northern Ireland General Practitioners Committee Dr Frances O'Hagan said. | A strep A infection becomes dangerous when a child suddenly deteriorates, deputy chairperson of the Northern Ireland General Practitioners Committee Dr Frances O'Hagan said. |
| In these cases children should be taken to A&E as quickly as possible. | In these cases children should be taken to A&E as quickly as possible. |
| "The other thing to be aware of is that the treatment for strep A is an antibiotic called Penicillin V," Dr O'Hagan said. | "The other thing to be aware of is that the treatment for strep A is an antibiotic called Penicillin V," Dr O'Hagan said. |
| "Penicillin V does not taste very nice so children will not like it, but it's very important that you get it into your child. | "Penicillin V does not taste very nice so children will not like it, but it's very important that you get it into your child. |
| "And it's a 10-day course, so it's really important that you finish the 10 days." | "And it's a 10-day course, so it's really important that you finish the 10 days." |
| What should parents do? | What should parents do? |
| As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement. Contact your GP if: | As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement. Contact your GP if: |
| your child is getting worse | your child is getting worse |
| your child is feeding or eating much less than normal | your child is feeding or eating much less than normal |
| your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration | your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration |
| your baby is under three months old and has a temperature of 38°C, or is older than three months and has a temperature of 39°C or higher | your baby is under three months old and has a temperature of 38°C, or is older than three months and has a temperature of 39°C or higher |
| your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty | your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty |
| your child is very tired or irritable | your child is very tired or irritable |
| Call 999 or go to A&E if: | Call 999 or go to A&E if: |
| your child is having difficulty breathing - you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs | your child is having difficulty breathing - you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs |
| there are pauses when your child breathes | there are pauses when your child breathes |
| your child's skin, tongue or lips are blue | your child's skin, tongue or lips are blue |
| your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake | your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake |