Heartbroken dad of girl, 5, who is ninth child to die from Strep A wishes she could have left hospital holding his hand

It is understood that she became unwell last week and was taken to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children where she was treated in intensive care for three days before sadly passing away on Monday night.

Parents of the youngest pupils at the school received a letter from the Public Health Agency on Friday to tell them a pupil had been diagnosed with a severe form of Strep A.

Her death takes the number of children known to have died from the illness - which usually only causes a mild sore throat and temperature but can be life-threatening - to nine.

These include Muhammed Ibrahim Ali, four, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and seven-year-old Hanna Roap, from Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan.

Lockdowns during the pandemic, when kids were trapped indoors, are being blamed for the outbreak.

As cases of scarlet fever and Strep A sweep across the UK, several primary schools have made the decision to close.

St Vincent's Voluntary Catholic Academy in Hull shut for a "deep clean" on Friday after a small number of children came down with a bug.

Parents at the school gates on Monday were in agreement that it was the right precaution to take.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the last time there was an intensive period of Strep A infection was in 2017-18 when four deaths were recorded in England in the equivalent time frame.

In response to the outbreak, Downing Street yesterday said it can “fully understand” that parents are concerned by rising Strep A cases, but stressed the NHS is “well prepared” for such situations.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We are seeing a higher number of cases of Group A strep this year compared to usual.

“The bacteria we know causes a mild infection which is easily treated with antibiotics and in rare circumstances it can get into the bloodstream and cause serious illness.

“It is still uncommon but it’s important parents are on the lookout for symptoms.

“But the NHS is well prepared to deal with situations like this, working with the UK Health Security Agency.”

He said any parents who are concerned should contact the NHS.

The Sun's Dr Jeff Foster said Strep A is one of the most common bugs doctors see in kids every year, but that it is currently surging.

He said: “It is commonly found in children under ten and is spread by droplets and close contact — through spit, sneezing, coughing and touching infected surfaces. It’s the same way you would get a common cold.

“You can get mild cases where children have a temperature and a sore throat. If it becomes scarlet fever they would get a rash, which looks like sandpaper, around four or five days after the temperature starts, and red flushing cheeks.

"This year’s is not a new variant. It’s the post-Covid effect as kids were not exposed to bugs for two years."

Data from the UKHSA shows that there were 851 cases of scarlet fever in the week ending November 20.

This is compared to 186 cases recorded in previous years.

Scarlet fever is caused by bacteria called group A streptococci. These bacteria also cause other respiratory and skin infections such as Strep throat and impetigo.

Dr Colin Brown, deputy director of the UKHSA, added: "It is important parents are on the lookout for symptoms — and see a doctor as quickly as possible so we can stop the infection becoming serious."