Two people died today following respiratory infections with streptococcus A bacteria in Spain, where authorities announced a study into a possible increase in severe cases following those seen in France and Britain recently.
The health authority of the Madrid region announced Wednesday night the deaths of two people on December 2 and October 25 after infections with streptococcus A, a bacterium that mainly causes scarlet fever, a mild childhood illness.
According to Spanish media, the two people who died are children.
In total, 16 cases have been identified in the capital region, which "has been studying since 5 December whether the incidence of invasive streptococcal disease (meningitis, septic shock or pneumonia) is now higher than that detected before the COVID-19 pandemic, following the health alert issued by Britain," the Spanish authority said in a statement.
In France, Streptococcus A infections are registering an unusual increase in children, authorities said Tuesday, calling for vigilance.
In Britain, 15 deaths of children have been attributed to streptococcus A infection in recent weeks.
British and French authorities, however, consider it unlikely that this spike is due to the emergence of a new, more dangerous bacterial strain.
Streptococcus A can cause either mild or fatal infections, especially when it reaches the bloodstream, diseases such as tonsillitis, waxy wax (a contagious skin infection) and scarlet fever.
Source: Cyprus Times
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