Recently there has been a chain closure of school units due to outbreaks of streptococcal infection by pyogenic streptococcus in various parts of Greece.

In announcements of some municipalities, it is stated that the closure of the school units was made in consultation with EDY.

EDYI clarifies that it has never recommended taking this measure.

“We note that the closure of the school unit is a serious public health measure with many implications and should only be applied after the competent public health services,” the Agency said in a statement

It also gives instructions for managing outbreaks to apply to school and home environment

If we have cases of streptococcal infection in a school unit (mild or penetrating), the measures recommended are:

– The child stays at home until he receives an appropriate antibiotic treatment, at least one to two 24 hours.

– Apply enhanced personal hygiene measures, regular hand washing, avoiding use of other children (eg glasses, etc.).

– Regular ventilation of the rooms.

– Strengthening the Regular Cleaning Program of the Halfers.

Should not be done:

– Disinfection of spaces and surfaces with special workshops
– No need and should not be closed by school units and departments where infection of streptococcal infection were presented

ESO also informs about the infection:

– Group A streptococcus, also known as a pyogenic streptococcus or GAS (Group a Streptococcus) is a bacterium that can cause various infections to humans, usually mild but in rare cases very severe, even deadly if not treated properly. A percentage of people carry the bacterium to their pharynx or skin without being ill, thus being healthy bacterium carriers.

– Group A streptococcus is transmitted with contaminated droplets from patient secretions, contact with infected patient skin lesions and contact with healthy bacterium carriers. Transmission becomes easier than people who are coincidental and are ill than by healthy carriers.

– By 2023 the Group A streptococcus was not included in the list of compulsory state -of -the -art diseases. In 2023, because there was an increase in the severe form of streptococci infection of the A/ penetrating form, a penetrating form recording system was created. It is noted that Infection of Streptococcus Infection of Group A (IGAS) have high mortality reaching 25%.

– In 2023, 90 cases of Igas were recorded, in 2024 68 and to date, Monday 26/05/2025, 25 IGAS cases have been declared. That is, there is a relative reduction in recorded cases of Igas. At the same time, hundreds of cases of streptococcal infection (eg pharyngoamidalitis, skin infection, shellfish, etc.) have been observed in the community over time, which are successfully cured by appropriate antibiotic treatment.