The number of scarlet fever cases being reported in Wales is five times higher than the next-highest December in recent records. At the start of December, 2019, 30 cases of scarlet fever were reported - whereas at the start of this December, that number was 150.
The figures follow several reports of children dying after contracting scarlet fever across the UK, and of outbreaks, including one in Carmarthenshire which has seen two children hospitalised.
The data breaks down the cases of scarlet fever reported every week since the start of 2019. This data, released by Public Health Wales, shows a huge increase between the numbers in 2019 - the last year pre-pandemic - and the numbers in 2022. Cases were generally lower in 2020 and 2021, but this could be partially explained by the Covid lockdowns causing people to mix less outside of their households. You can get more health news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
READ MORE: Strep A symptoms, how long it's contagious for and how it spreads
The rate of scarlet fever cases in 2022 has been the same or higher than in 2019 for every week since late March. Cases have especially climbed in the autumn and winter, with 59 reported in late October, 86 in early November, a drop to 39 in mid-November and then a steady climb to 97, 101 and then 150 in the weeks since.
The pattern in 2019, the most reliable comparison with this year, shows moderately high cases towards the start of the year, a huge drop-off in August and September, and a rise again in the winter months. Although cases in 2022 started off lower than in 2019 (at this time, some Covid restrictions remained in Wales), they've been higher in almost every week since then - and never lower.
There was no spike in cases to speak of at this point in 2020 or 2021 - in the first week of December in those years, there were 5 and 4 cases respectively.
You can find all the information on how to get a test for Strep A, the bacteria that causes scarlet fever and other infections, here. It's important to speak to your GP if you think your child has a Strep A infection. The father of Hanna Roap, a young schoolgirl who died from Strep A, believes her life could have been saved if she had been given antibiotics.
Nine children are reported to have died of Strep A infection in this outbreak. The rate of invasive Strep A cases per 100,000 children has risen in England, according to the New Scientist, although that figure is different to the number of scarlet fever cases.
Strep A is an abbreviation of "group A streptococcus," and it's the name of the type of bacteria that causes infections including scarlet fever. You might also see the phrase iGAS - meaning "invasive group A streptococcus" used for the more dangerous type of infections that can be caused.
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