UK reports 94 deaths from scarlet fever amid shortages of penicillin
The United Kingdom has reported 94 deaths, including those of 21 children, due to scarlet fever and invasive Strep A infections so far this year.
In a report on Thursday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) further said nearly half (41 percent) of the deaths were among people aged 75 and over.
The British government said last week it was enacting protocols to ease shortages of penicillin medicines used to treat Strep A infections, allowing pharmacists to prescribe alternatives where stocks are low.
Figures by the UKHSA shows there have been 27,486 reported cases of scarlet fever from September 12 to December 18.
According to the agency, these notifications of scarlet fever can be compared with a total of 3,287 at the same point in the year during the last comparably high season in 2017 to 2018, though cases in that season began to rise at a different time.
"I understand how this large rise in scarlet fever and 'strep throat' may be concerning to parents, however the condition can be easily treated with antibiotics and it is very rare that a child will go on to become more seriously ill," said UKHSA's Deputy Director Colin Brown.
Most Strep A infections are mild and easily treated but some can cause more serious conditions such as scarlet fever and invasive group A streptococcal infection (iGAS), which can be deadly.
The National Health Service (NHS) has been under severe pressure this winter as thousands of ambulance workers in England and Wales went on a strike on Wednesday over higher wages, just a day after nurses walked out over the same reason.
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