ANOTHER school in the Bradford district has confirmed cases of Strep A.

A letter sent out on Friday, December 9, to parents and guardians of pupils at Beckfoot Oakbank in Oakworth, Keighley, said: “We have been informed that a small number of students who attend our school have been diagnosed with suspected or confirmed scarlet fever.

“We have been advised by the UK Health Protection Agency (formerly Public Health England) and the Public Health Department at the Local Authority to send this letter for your information.”

The letter went on to warn parents of the symptoms. 

Other schools in the district, including St Paul’s in Wibsey and Iqra Academy in Manningham have also confirmed cases.

The NHS in West Yorkshire has urged people to be on the lookout for symptoms of Group A Streptococcus, or ‘GAS’, in children - more commonly known as scarlet fever.

Symptoms include sore throat, headache, fever and a fine, pinkish or red body rash. On darker skin the rash can be more difficult to detect visually. It will have a sandpapery feel when you rub your hand over a child’s skin.

“Parents and carers who identify these symptoms should contact NHS 111 online, call NHS 111 or their GP because early treatment with oral antibiotics is important to reduce the risk of complications, such as pneumonia or a bloodstream infection,” said a spokesperson for the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.

“If your child has scarlet fever keep them at home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others.

“Parents and carers are advised to call 999 or go to A&E only if your child is having noisy or difficulty breathing, there are pauses in your child’s breathing, your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue and/or your child is floppy, drowsy and or will not wake up.”

iGAS - invasive Group A Streptococcal - is a rare complication of Strep A infection and can lead to severe issues.

The invasive version of the illness occurs when the bacterium gets into the part of the body where it is not usually found, such as the blood, muscle, or lungs.

At least 15 deaths have now been linked to iGAS.