On Monday, June 12, the National Public Health Organization (EODY) was informed by a nursing institution of the country about a case of invasive streptococcal disease (iGAS) from group A streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) in a seven-year-old boy, who ended up in the ICU with a clinical picture of septic shock. This is the sixth individual case of death from iGAS in a child in Greece, in the year 2023.

In our country, group A invasive streptococcal infections were not monitored through the mandatory disease reporting system. EODY sent an information note with instructions to all nursing institutions in the country regarding the need to report to EODY all cases of invasive streptococcal group A infection. Instructions were sent to Public Health Directorates regarding the management of iGAS cases in the home and school environment and the scientific community was informed.

EODY is in constant communication with the ECDC and actively participates in the Joint Epidemiological Surveillance Network of the disease at the European level and in the event of an update of the instructions to the Public Health Authorities it will immediately inform the public and the medical community.

According to reports from International and European Public Health bodies (WHO, ECDC) there is an increase in iGAS cases in children under the age of ten in some European countries, from September 2022 until now. During the same period, several deaths from iGAS in children under 10 years of age were also reported (UK, France, Ireland). Until today no new strain of streptococcus appears. Group A streptococcus is sensitive to common antimicrobials.

EODY reminds that group A streptococcus (GAS) is the most common cause of bacterial pharyngitis in school-age children. The incidence of GAS pharyngitis usually peaks during the winter months and early spring. In extremely rare cases GAS can cause severe and life-threatening iGAS infection.