Girl, 8, dies and woman, 33, arrested on suspicion of child neglect as public health probe Strep A link
AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD girl has tragically died with a woman arrested on suspicion of child neglect as authorities probe a possible link to the recent horror Strep A outbreak.
An investigation has been launched into the tragedy that unfolded in Lampeter, Wales on December 22.
Police arrested a 33-year-old woman the day after the youngster's death.
Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed she has been released under investigation as enquiries continue.
Public Health Wales is investigating links to the invasive Strep A outbreak that has taken the lives of 24 children in recent weeks.
The body is working with Ceredigion Council and Hywel Dda University Health Board following the tragic death.
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Dr Graham Brown, consultant in communicable disease control for Public Health Wales, said: "Public Health Wales is working with Hywel Dda University Health Board and Ceredigion Council following the death of a child in Lampeter.
"We offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and all those affected.
"Public Health Wales cannot comment on individual cases.
"We are investigating links to Invasive Group A Streptococcal disease (iGAS), a very rare complication of Group A Streptococcal infection.
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"While we understand that parents are likely to be worried, cases of iGAS remain rare in Wales, and children have a very low risk of contracting the disease.
"Invasive Strep A infections occur when Strep A bacteria gets past the defences of the infected person - often when that person has sores or breaks in the skin, or when they are immunocompromised (often due to illness)."
As of December 22, the UK Health Security Agency said that 24 children had died from Strep A in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The symptoms of an invasive Strep A infection are:
- Fever (above 38°C)
- Severe muscle aches
- Localised muscle tenderness
- Redness at the site of a wound
If your child is showing any symptoms of invasive Strep A, you should contact your GP immediately.
Additionally if your child has a fever, nausea or vomiting, or a fine sandpaper-like pink-red rash, this could be a symptom of scarlet fever - another complication of Strep A infection - and you should also contact your GP.
More information about Strep A is available on the Public Health Wales website.
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A spokesperson for Ceredigion Council said: "Our thoughts are with the family and we are supporting them in every way we can.
"The Council cannot comment further due to the ongoing police investigation."