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Group A Streptococcus Alert Hits Close to Home

Tuesday, 28 November 2017 at 14:23

Health Officials in Oxford County are keeping a close eye on the Group A Streptococcus Alert issued by the London Middlesex Health Unit.

OXFORD COUNTY - The Middlesex-London Health Unit has issued an alert after nine people died in an ongoing invasive group A streptococcus outbreak in the London area.

The outbreak was declared more than 18 months ago and the Middlesex-London Health Unit says more than 132 cases of infection have been reported since April, 2016. Program Supervisor in Health Protection for Oxford County Elaine Reddick we have not seen the increase in our area. 

"We've had 8 cases of invasive group A Strep this year, which is maybe a little bit higher than last year, last year we had 6 and the year before that we had 5, so it is kind of running in the range that we would expect but we are certainly keeping a close eye on that." 

In London-Middlesex, half of the cases have been among injection drug users and people without access to stable housing. Locally only one of the 8 cases in Oxford County would have met that criteria. Reddick says it is something they are keeping a close eye on, however it is not something they would issue an alert about locally. She does offer some tips to help prevent you from getting Strep A. 

"It is something that is spread person to person through droplets, so always hand washing and covering your cough, staying home when you are really sick, that sort of thing. This is the same organism that causes Strep throat, so if someone has a really sore throat, they should seek medical attention for that as it could be Strep throat and it should be treated." 

Reddick says the problem with group A streptococcus is when it becomes invasive, normally Strep throat is not invasive and can be treated. 

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