Strep A is circulating — and so are myths about what’s causing that

We don’t know yet what’s behind the spate of strep A deaths, but we can do more to protect children, writes Devi Sridhar 

‘The rising number of deaths from strep A is causing anxiety among parents.’

With Covid-19 dominating the news for almost three years, it’s easy to forget the other infectious diseases that still cause us problems. 

Strep A has been making news headlines because eight children have died of it in England and Wales, plus one in Northern Ireland. The death of a 4-year-old child in the North Dublin region has also been linked to Strep A, but the exact cause of death has yet to be determined.