Wirral Council has announced that Public Health England has reported a continued substantial increase in Scarlet Fever notifications across England.
Scarlet Fever is mainly a childhood disease and is most common between the ages of two and eight years. It was once a very dangerous infection, but although much less serious now, complications can arise and there is currently no vaccine for the disease.
This is the second year in a row of exceptional Scarlet Fever activity, with the number of reported cases since the season began in September more than doubling in comparison to the same period last season.
Last week alone saw a total of 754 new cases reported in England.
Dr Theresa Lamagni, Public Health England’s head of streptococcal infection surveillance, reassured the public that Scarlet Fever is a seasonal disease and that the season should peak within the next few weeks, resulting in a reduction in the number of cases.
She also stressed that close monitoring, rapid and decisive response to potential outbreaks and early treatment of Scarlet Fever with antibiotics remained essential.
Thus those who care for children are encouraged to educated themselves on the signs of infection to know when to take an infected child to a GP.
Dr Lamagni also advised that GPs, as well as schools and nurseries, should be mindful of the current high levels of Scarlet Fever and promptly inform local health protection teams if they become aware of cases, especially if more than one child is affected.
For more information, including the signs of Scarlet Fever to look out for, please visit the Wirral Council website.
