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Isle Of Wight Has Highest Number Of Scarlet Fever Cases In Britain

Credit: Sky News.

The Isle of Wight has more confirmed cases of Scarlet Fever than anywhere else in the UK according to the latest statistics.

A total of 32 cases of the illness have been recorded across the Island so far.

There have been 1,131 recorded across the UK.

While there are no confirmed cases of the invasive Group A streptococcus —  also known as iGAS — on the Island, there are four unconfirmed streptococcal infections.

Scarlet fever is a contagious infection that mostly affects young children. It's easily treated with antibiotics.

If left untreated it can develop into Strep A — a potentially life-threatening virus.


At least nine children have now died with a Strep A infection across the UK, with health officials also reporting a surge in scarlet fever cases.

Typically, Strep A infections are mild and treated easily with antibiotics but an invasive form of the bacteria, known as iGAS, has increased this year, particularly in those under the age of 10.

Symptoms of Scarlet Fever include a sore throat, headache, fever, and a "sandpapery-feeling" pinkish or red body rash.

In total, there have been 23,034 recorded cases of scarlet fever so far in 2022, up to December 4.

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