Health warning amid rise in strep A deaths in Queensland
Cases of the deadly bacterial infection strep A are becoming more common in Queensland sparking concerns from health experts.
Experts claim there is a spike in group A streptococcus in Queensland after nine people died from the severe invasive bacteria last year.
It comes as infections have increased by almost 30 per cent in the state over the past year from 278 in 2021 to 359 in 2022.
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Group A streptococcus infections are rising in Queensland after nine people died from the disease in 2022. CDC
"We are very concerned about it because it can be quite life-threatening," AMA Queensland president Maria Boulton said.
Strep A is a bacteria found in the throat and skin.
Many people who contract it usually have a mild sore throat and fever or no symptoms.
But it can turn deadly and cause permanent disabilities in cases where it develops into a more severe infection: invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS).
"25 per cent of invasive strep disease gets into the deep tissue and can be fatal," Professor Michael Good said.
Common symptoms include a rapid onset of a sore throat, pain when swallowing, fever, red and swollen tonsils sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus, and tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth.
Doctors are warning if you do have these symptoms to contact your GP immediately.
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Strep A can turn to a deadly infection and Queenslanders are warned to watch for symptoms. 9News
There is also a warning for parents as one of the most common places for strep A to spread is in the school playground.
"Make sure they really have good hygiene, washing their hands, avoid sneezing and coughing in front of other people," Good said.
Good and his team at Griffith University have been working on a vaccine against strep A for a decade as there currently is no preventative treatment for the infection.
"We're in the middle of an international trial. You can treat strep A with antibiotics but there's no prevention," he said.
Meanwhile, a warning has also been issued by NSW and Victorian health authorities after a spike in cases among children.
Cases are also increasing internationally after 16 children died from Strep A in the UK since September.
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