European Children Severely Impacted by Group A Strep Infections

Several European countries (including Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the U.K.) recently indicated an increase in invasive Group A Streptococcus (iGAS) disease cases among children less than ten years of age.

And several deaths associated with iGAS in children under ten years of age have also been reported in 2022, including from Ireland, France, Spain, and the U.K., reported the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on December 12, 2022.

The ECDC says it is likely that the increase in iGAS cases is also associated with the recently increased circulation of respiratory viruses, including seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus.

The incidence of GAS pharyngitis usually peaks during winter months and early spring in Europe. 

WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, calls on countries to "increase vigilance to iGAS cases, especially when respiratory viruses are widely circulating in children." 

In early December 2022, the U.S. CDC confirmed it is looking into a possible increase in iGAS infections among children in the U.S.

Bacteria called group A strep can cause many different infections.

The best way to protect yourself from group A strep infection is to practice good hygiene, like washing your hands often, says the CDC.

As of December 13, 2022, there is no vaccine to prevent group A streptococcal infections.

Therefore vaccination against seasonal influenza and COVID-19 should be promoted, says the ECDC.

Updated on Dec. 15, 2022 - The Santé Publique France (SpF) reported an increase in pediatric iGAS infections in France since the beginning of 2022 in the Occitanie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Nouvelle-Aquitaine regions. In addition, SpF also detected an increase in cases of scarlet fever reported in outpatient clinics in the country since September 2022.