Health Secretary denies ‘shortage’ of antibiotics amid deadly Strep A outbreak
Health Secretary Steve Barclay has promised there is a ‘good supply’ of antibiotics available this winter.
He told Sky News: ‘I checked with the team last night – we have an established team in the department that does this on a permanent basis – and they reassured me we have good supply.
‘The medical suppliers are required to notify us if they’ve got shortages.’
Mr Barclay did however admit some GPs may have shortages while stock is moved around.
He added: ‘Now, sometimes, GPs can have particular surges if they’ve got a lot of demand in an area, and that’s quite routine, we can move the stock around our depots.
‘As of last night when we checked (with suppliers), they said they could reassure us that they’ve got good stock and were moving that around to meet demand.
‘Obviously parents are concerned at the moment because they see the stories.
‘One in five children have this – Strep A – naturally, complications are very rare, but it’s important that we’re vigilant.’
Schoolchildren across the country are falling victim to the rare, invasive infection.
Strep A bacteria leapfrogs from person to person through close contact or it hides in an infected person’s nose and throat droplets.
Once someone is exposed to strep A bacteria, it typically takes two to five days for them to become ill with strep throat.
The most recent death reported was of Stella-Lilly McCorkindale in Belfast who attended Black Mountain Primary School.
The school has spoken of its ‘tragic loss’ and said “the thoughts of the entire school are with the pupil’s family and friends at this difficult time”.
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) officials have suggested that a lack of mixing due to the Covid pandemic plus susceptibility in children are probably ‘bringing forward the normal scarlet fever season’ from spring to this side of Christmas.
Dr Colin Brown, deputy director of the UKHSA, suggested on Tuesday the strains were not more severe, adding: ‘There isn’t something that is particularly new or novel about the bacteria that are causing the infections that we’re seeing at the moment.’
The UKHSA has advised medics to have a low threshold for prescribing antibiotics for children who may be suffering infection linked to Strep A.
Strep A bacteria can cause many different infections, ranging from minor illnesses to serious and deadly diseases.
They include the skin infection impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat.
While the vast majority of infections are relatively mild, sometimes the bacteria cause serious and life-threatening invasive Group A Streptococcal disease.
This occurs when the bacteria have invaded parts of the body such as the blood, deep muscle or lungs.
Two of the most severe, but rare, forms of invasive disease are necrotising fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.
A dad who had all four limbs amputated and facial reconstruction after contracting Strep A has warned parents to be vigilant as infections continue to sweep through the nation.
Alex Lewis, 42, thought he had ‘man flu’ in 2013 but collapsed and was taken to hospital where he was given just a three percent chance of survival.
He had contracted Strep A, followed by Septicaemia.
Alex told the Daily Echo: ‘I saw an interview with the father of a little girl in Alder Hey hospital and that was pretty raw.
‘I can only imagine what he’s going through and I know my family went through similar. It’s tough.’
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