Streptococci

2023: Israel sounds alarm over streptococcus He claimed the lives of dozens of children

In early January 2023, the Ministry health care Israel raised concerns about the spread of streptococcus A - bacteria which has already caused 29 death children in. Great Britain

Streptococcus usually causes sore throat and flu-like symptoms. But in rare cases, bacteria become invasive, multiply in the blood or in other organs, provoking a number of diseases. These include meningitis, scarlet fever, toxic shock syndrome and a carnivorous ailment called necrotising fasciitis. In the latter case, pain and fever occur, and the skin acquires a dark red or bluish color, is covered with bubbles and necrotic areas of purple, crimson or black.

Group A streptococci caused the death of dozens of children

The World Health Organization announced an increase in the incidence of invasive infections caused by streptococcus A, but did not explain why this was happening. The warning is based on data from at least five countries - the Netherlands, France, Ireland, Sweden and the UK. Australia has reported two child deaths triggered by streptococcus. In the UK, given both child and adult mortality, 151 people have died from infections caused by streptococcus A since September 2022, and it is believed that the peak incidence has not yet been overcome.

A team of epidemiologists at Israel's Ministry of Health notified medical officers that streptococcus A strains, which were rare in the past, were growing, causing an "increase in invasive incidence." Medical institutions are advised to focus on monitoring, monitoring and increasing public awareness of the spread of the bacterium. It is noted that the incidence decreased at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but increased in the second half of 2021 and remained high during 2022.^[1]

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