CDC issues ‘urgent’ Strep A warning as infection continues to spread in US – and UK child death toll rises to 21
- Official message warns doctors of ‘the importance of early recognition’
- So far only two Strep A deaths have been confirmed in the US and 21 in the UK
- But six US hospitals have reported abnormal patterns of strep A in recent weeks
Senior US officials have issued a warning about a Streptococcus A epidemic spreading across America – a sign that officials fear the bacterial infection will continue to rise in the coming months.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the emergency advisory message Thursday, notify doctors and public health authorities of the situation.
America has suffered two confirmed strep deaths in this outbreak, both in Denver, Colorado. Doctors at hospitals in at least six states have given anecdotal reports that infection cases have increased this year.
The CDC does not track Strep A nationally, so daily case counts are impossible to know. Across the pond, 21 children died Of the disease in the UK – and US officials fear this outbreak will reach the same levels in the US.
There have been anecdotal reports from at least six hospitals in the United States that cases of strep A are either more frequent than usual this year or more severe. Two pediatric deaths have been confirmed in Colorado as part of this outbreak. The CDC does not report real-time national data on Strep A
Symptoms of strep A include rashes and sores around the body, flushed cheeks, sore throat, muscle aches, and fever. It is a relatively mild disease that does not cause many pediatric deaths each year.
The CDC said it will investigate reports of Strep A cases across the country.
The agency also stressed “the importance of early recognition, diagnosis and appropriate treatment” of strep A in adults and children.
Officials warn of a recent rise in infections – and the increased seasonal risk of the disease in every age group.
Cases of strep A and strep throat — known as strep throat — typically peak between December and April in the United States.
Strep throat is most common in children between five and 15 years old.
A person can get strep A from someone with strep throat – another form of infection.
Bacterial infections like strep A are more common after viral illnesses because the immune system has been worn down by the previous illness, making them vulnerable.
The CDC warns that the elderly and immunocompromised people are most at risk for strep A — but the infection rarely poses a risk to healthy children.
Conditions that put a person at increased risk include diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, and cancer.
Also, people with wounds or skin conditions, as well as those who inject drugs or are homeless, are more likely to contract strep A.
Earlier this week, one of the largest children’s hospitals in Missouri reported an influx of children with bizarre Streptococcus A symptoms.
children’s mercy Kansas The city hospital recently admitted seven children with symptoms including a ‘stuck’ eye, bumps behind the ear and difficulty swallowing – which led to drooling.
Doctors were initially puzzled by the cases – but further testing revealed that each child had Strep A. They noted that these were not typical symptoms of a Strep A infection.
Some experts feared the lockdowns had robbed children of immunity to common infections, making cases of strep A and other infections more severe than usual.
Earlier this week, the CDC admitted that school closuresmask orders, shutdowns and other pandemic orders may have contributed to the increased severity of strep A this year.
Pandemic prevention measures like masking school closures may have contributed to the spike in influenza and RSV cases.
In turn, these might have spurred more bacterial infections like strep A, which often strike when the immune system is vulnerable after a viral infection.
“We just don’t see that many people together in such a short time,” said Dr. Angela Myers, director of infectious diseases at Children’s Mercy. Washington Post.
Typical symptoms of strep A include rash, fever, sore throat, flushed cheeks, muscle aches and sores on the skin.
While other more serious symptoms may appear in invasive cases of Strep A (iSGA) – eye problems and drooling are not usually associated with the infection.
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