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All children in the same year at primary schools as children with Strep A could be given antibiotics in a "rare" move due to "exceptional circumstances" after eight died from the infection

It comes after an eighth child died from Strep A.

"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"

No 10 also denied there was a shortage of the antibiotic amoxicillin.

The rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) around the globe represents a crisis on many fronts. Infections that are difficult, or impossible, to treat cause considerable public health and economic burdens, but also pose a serious threat to food security.

The Indian Council of Medical Research has issued guidelines warning against the use of antibiotics for conditions such as low-grade fever and viral bronchitis while advising doctors to follow a timeline while prescribing them. Read on for details:

Ninety per cent of people who believe they are allergic to penicillin do not, in fact, have the allergy, hospital researchers say.

Victoria is the latest state to move towards pharmacist prescribing, with Premier Daniel Andrews promising a trial allowing pharmacists to prescribe antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and medicines for other conditions if re-elected.

At present, medics may sometimes give out antibiotics unnecessarily because it is not clear whether an infection is caused by bacteria

Exclusive: Most important antibiotics for human health still used in supply chains of major US food companies, risking spread of superbugs

Resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites mutate and no longer respond to the medicines designed to treat them.