There are more than 27,000 possible cases of scarlet fever in the UK

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Scarlet fever is the most common and usually mild disease caused by an infection with the Streptococcus A bacteria

London, Thanasis Gavos

Almost 10,000 more cases have been added by the UK public health authority to the list of suspected cases of scarlet fever, the most common and usually mild disease caused by infection with the Streptococcus A bacteria.

As announced by the Health Protection Service reviewing previous data, during the two months from September 12 to December 11 there were 17,695 diagnoses of possible scarlet fever.

During the same period in 2017 and 2018, which were recorded as outbreak years, there were only 2,538 cases of scarlet fever.

In addition, in the week to December 18, another 9,482 cases were reported. Therefore, a total of 27,177 confirmed or probable cases of scarlet fever have been recorded during the current outbreak period.

In the last week, however, there has been no new death of a minor from the most serious infection that streptococcus A can develop into.

Since September, 19 minor deaths have been reported, 16 in England, two in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.

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