Strep A has now killed at least 19 children in the UK

At least 19 children have died after being diagnosed with invasive streptococcal A.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced today that 16 young people under the age of 18 have died from the bacteria in England since September.

Three other child deaths have been recorded in Belfast and Wales, bringing the UK death toll to 19 tonnes

However, health officials do not believe the UK has reached its peak of infections, suggesting more deaths may be expected.

The bacteria, also known as Group A streptococci, can cause various illnesses, such as strep throat and scarlet fever.

While most of these infections are mild at best — a quick dose of antibiotics is all that’s needed — sometimes things can get more serious.

Usually, the strep A bacteria settles in people’s throats, but can sometimes work its way into people’s blood, muscle, or fat – this is called invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS).

UKHSA deputy director Dr Colin Brown said: ‘Scarlet fever and ‘strep throat’ make children feel unwell but are easily treated with antibiotics.

“Symptoms to watch for are fever, sore throat, swollen glands, difficulty swallowing and headache.”

“It is very rare for a child to become more seriously ill, but parents know better than anyone how your child is usually,” he added, “so you will know when they are not responding as they normally would. .’