TWO PUPILS HAVE BEEN HOSPITALISED AS OVER 20 SCARLET FEVER CASES REPORTED AT PRIMARY SCHOOL IN WALES

Senior Councillor for education and Welsh language Glynog Davies has confirmed around two dozen children at Brynaman Primary School, in Wales, were suffering from scarlet fever. One of the two more serious cases had been admitted to Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales. Cllr Davies said headteachers were given a briefing on the situation on Monday, plus a letter from Public Health Wales (PHW) , and that schools had to follow certain guidelines:



Cllr Davies, addressing a meeting of full council, said five schools in Carmarthenshire had scarlet fever cases of varying numbers and that the authority was working very closely with PHW.

Scarlet fever is caused by a bacteria group called streptococcus, known as strep A. It causes flu-like symptoms such as a temperature, sore throat and swollen neck glands. Other symptoms include a rash with a sand-papery feel and a red, swollen tongue.


Most people with a strep A infection do not get extremely sick, but it can, in a small number of cases, be fatal.

Cllr Davis has confirmed that it is a very serious disease spread through direct contact, through droplets in the air, and through people using the same equipment and utensils:



He added that a letter had also been sent to parents and carers in Carmarthenshire, and that if they had concerns about a child's health they should contact their GP. The issue had been raised in the meeting by opposition leader Councillor Rob James, who asked if the council would increase its cleaning of schools with high numbers of strep A cases to try to prevent its spread. Cllr Davies said it would do so if PHW recommended it. He also urged people to wash their hands frequently and to cover their face when coughing and sneezing.

Cllr Davies whose own son is in a GP, has advised that there was a shortage of antibiotics currently. The Welsh Government said it was working with the UK Government to procure more antibiotics.

Souce: MSN