The Middlesex London Health Unit says a bacterial outbreak that began 18 months ago has claimed the lives of nine people.
The health unit is sending out an alert to local health care providers about an invasive group A streptococcus outbreak. It says, since April of 2016, more than 132 cases of iGAS infection have been reported to the health unit. Of those, 22% required treatment in intensive care, 15% had streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, and 15% had necrotizing fasciitis (the so-called flesh eating disease).
“Two distinct realities have emerged during our investigation,” says Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Gayane Hovhannisyan. “We’ve found about half of the cases are among injection drug users and/or those without access to stable housing. Yet there has also been an increase in iGAS infections among people who have no connection, and are not related, to the outbreak in people who inject drugs or who are under-housed. We need a better understanding of what’s happening, which is why we’ve issued this alert.”
Group A streptococcus is a common bacteria that, in most cases, causes only relatively mild illnesses like strep throat. However, it can be more serious. According to the health unit, potentially life-threatening infections are able to get into muscles, blood and other organs.
While the risk of iGAS infection is low, it’s important to follow these preventive measures:
• Wash your hands regularly, especially after coughing or sneezing and before handling or eating food; • Cover the mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; use a tissue or your sleeve, not your hands; • Avoid sharing drinking glasses, cups, water bottles and eating utensils, • Do not share drugs, needles, filters and other drug paraphernalia; • Keep all wounds clean, and watch for possible signs of infection such as a rapid increase in redness, swelling, drainage, and pain at the wound site. Seek medical care if infection does not clear up, or if it spreads rapidly. • If you’ve been in close contact with a person who has recently had iGAS disease, see your health care provider immediately, as you may need to begin preventative antibiotics.
