Warning after huge rise is scarlet fever cases

Schools were today urged to be extra vigilant with hand washing after a huge increase in cases of the disease.

The number of cases nationally has now exceeded four times the usual amount, Public Health England figures show.

Across Shropshire there have been five times as many cases than last year.

Since the scarlet fever season began in September last year officials have been notified of 8,305 cases, when normally they would expect to see just under 2,000 cases in the same time frame.

In Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin there have been 64 cases. Last year there were just 13. Across the West Midlands there have been 680 cases compared to 228 last season.

In Powys there have been five cases this year compared to three last year.

PHE said that the latest data has shown a decline in incidence in recent weeks, but officials are awaiting to see the impact of children returning to school after the Easter break.

A spokeswoman said that schools, nurseries and childcare settings should embed good hand hygiene practice in daily routines for pupils and staff. They should also be encouraged to use tissues when they cough and sneeze.

And if a school suspects an outbreak they should alert local health officials.

"We are still observing exceptionally high numbers of cases and will continue to monitor the situation closely to see if there is a sustained fall over the coming weeks," said Dr Theresa Lamagni, PHE's head of streptococcal infection surveillance.

"We strongly urge people to remain vigilant and to go to their GP if they develop symptoms which suggest scarlet fever such as a sore throat, fever, headache and rash."

Scarlet fever is mainly a childhood disease and is most common between the ages of two and eight.

It was once a very dangerous infection but is now less threatening, although complications can happen especially if sufferers do not get treated.

It is a highly contagious bacterial illness that causes a distinctive pink-red rash which feels like sandpaper to touch.

It can be itchy and start in one area, but soon spreads to many parts of the body, such as the ears, neck and chest.

Other symptoms include a high temperature, vomiting, a flushed face and a red, swollen tongue.

Scarlet fever usually follows a sore throat or skin infection. It is caught by breathing in bacteria in airborne droplets from an infected person's coughs and sneezes, or through touching their skin.

Sharing contaminated towels, baths, clothes, bedding, cups and utensils can also pass on the infection.

It is treated by antibiotics which must be taken for 10 days, even though most people recover after four to five

There are normally seasonal rises in scarlet fever between December and April each year. Every few years there is also a notable increase in the number of cases and the latest bout of infections is likely to be part of that cycle, experts have said.