The British Prime Minister’s Office has called on parents to be “vigilant” about the symptoms of the group A streptococcus infection that has killed at least six children.
As an invasive form of the type A strep bacterial infection has spread across the UK in recent months, officials said they “completely understand” the concerns parents are feeling about the rise in cases.
Reassuring the public, the British NHS is “well prepared” for such situations, while the Prime Minister’s Office said they are not aware of any current shortages of the antibiotic amoxicillin, which is used to treat treat bacterial infections.
Referring to the recent increase in cases, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “We are seeing a higher number of cases of group A strep this year compared to other years.
“The bacteria we know cause a mild infection that is easily treated with antibiotics, and in rare circumstances can enter the bloodstream and cause serious illness,” he added.
“It is still unusual, but important for parents to be on the lookout for symptoms. The NHS is well prepared to deal with such situations, working with the Health Security Agency in Great Britain,” he said, among other things.