Third primary school pupil dies of Strep A - BBC

A fourth child has died after contracting Strep A, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed.

The latest death was of a child with an invasive bacterial infection who attended St John's School in Ealing, west London.

A statement from his school said he would be missed "terribly".

The family of Hanna Roap, from Penarth, whose death from the illness was confirmed this week, have said their "hearts have been broken into a million pieces".

No further details have been released about the death of the Ealing pupil.

However, the UKHSA told the BBC it was important people understood that scarlet fever is a mild illness and the GAS bacteria that cause it only rarely become invasive.

Dr Liz Whittaker, a expert in paediatric infectious diseases and immunology at Imperial College London, said GAS was a "very common" infection.

She said parents of primary school children "should not worry, but they should know when to seek medical attention - if a child's temperature is not settling after four or five days or they're breathing fast or lethargic or not drinking properly, then get advice from 111 online or by phone.".

Dr Yimmy Chow, health protection consultant at UKHSA London, said: "We are extremely saddened to hear about the death of a child at St John's Primary School, and our thoughts are with their family, friends and the school community.

"Working with Ealing Council public health team, we have provided precautionary advice to the school community to help prevent further cases and we continue to monitor the situation closely."?

The UKHSA said the symptoms of Group A streptococcal infection include a sore throat, fever and minor skin infections, and can be treated with a full course of antibiotics prescribed by a GP?

Girl's family devastated by Strep A death

Pupil dies after primary school bacteria outbreak