This site is intended for Healthcare Professionals only

Scarlet fever rising

Latest bookmark icon off

Scarlet fever rising

Scarlet fever cases are at their highest levels for over 30 years, according to figures from Public Health England (PHE). There were 883 new cases of scarlet fever reported in England between 24 and 30 March – the highest weekly rate recorded since 1982. In total, there have been 5,012 new infections since September 2013, compared to an average of 1,650 cases over the same period in the last 10 years.

PHE is urging anyone with symptoms of scarlet fever, including sore throat, headache, fever and a rash, to consult their GP, while those who have been diagnosed with the infection should stay at home for at least 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment to avoid transmission. PHE spokesperson Dr Theresa Lamagni commented: “We are working closely with healthcare professionals to try and understand the reasons behind these increases and do our best to reduce the impact of this infection.”

Copy Link copy link button

Latest

Share: