Two Montreal children have died from complications related to strep A infections, while four cases have been recorded since mid-November.
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For the same period between 2017 and 2021, the number of cases recorded was between 0 and 1.
“These 4 invasive GAS infections involve children aged 0-2 years. There is no epidemiological link between the cases according to the investigations carried out by the DRSP. Unfortunately, two children died of complications from the disease,” said Montreal public health.
The medical chief for the prevention and control of infectious diseases at the Direction régionale de la santé publique de Montréal (DRSP), Geneviève Bergeron, told TVA Nouvelles that each case was investigated in detail.
However, she recalled that group A streptococcus was a “very common” bacterium.
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“She is moving normally. Nearly 20% of the population catches it,” she said.
However, streptococcus A sometimes causes serious complications such as meningitis, toxic shocks or severe infections of the skin and tissues.
“Our call for vigilance is intended for clinicians to be on the lookout for biological trends and to take the necessary samples,” added Dr. Bergeron.
In update released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 15at least 5 countries have reported an increase in invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) infections in children in recent weeks.
Recall that at least 17 children died of infections linked to this bacterium in the United Kingdom where an investigation was opened by the health authorities into the increase in the prices of antibiotics.
