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Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/recor...n-canada-6-children-dead-in-ontario-1.6729641
Record number of invasive strep A infections in Canada, 6 children dead in Ontario
Daniel Otis
CTVNews.ca Writer
Updated Jan. 18, 2024 6:14 a.m. EST
Published Jan. 17, 2024 9:07 a.m. EST
Canada's public health agency has logged a record number of potentially deadly strep A infections, particularly in children under the age of 15. At least six children have died in Ontario.
"The concern is that it can be rapidly progressive and life-threatening," Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, head of critical care at The Ottawa Hospital, told CTV News Channel. "We've seen more cases of this in our intensive care unit, and the results have been pretty significant where people have lost their limbs, people have passed away."
As of Jan. 9, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has received more than 4,600 invasive group A streptococcus samples from 2023, which is the highest annual total ever recorded in Canada and a more than 40 per cent increase over a previous 2019 peak of 3,236 cases. According to PHAC, invasive group A streptococcus is endemic in the country, with 2,000 to 3,000 cases reported annually in recent years.
"Early laboratory data indicates that [invasive group A streptococcus] disease activity in 2023 was higher compared to pre-pandemic years," a PHAC spokesperson said in an emailed statement shared with CTVNews.ca. "The largest increases continue to be detected in children under 15 years of age."..
Record number of invasive strep A infections in Canada, 6 children dead in Ontario
Daniel Otis
CTVNews.ca Writer
Updated Jan. 18, 2024 6:14 a.m. EST
Published Jan. 17, 2024 9:07 a.m. EST
Canada's public health agency has logged a record number of potentially deadly strep A infections, particularly in children under the age of 15. At least six children have died in Ontario.
"The concern is that it can be rapidly progressive and life-threatening," Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, head of critical care at The Ottawa Hospital, told CTV News Channel. "We've seen more cases of this in our intensive care unit, and the results have been pretty significant where people have lost their limbs, people have passed away."
As of Jan. 9, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has received more than 4,600 invasive group A streptococcus samples from 2023, which is the highest annual total ever recorded in Canada and a more than 40 per cent increase over a previous 2019 peak of 3,236 cases. According to PHAC, invasive group A streptococcus is endemic in the country, with 2,000 to 3,000 cases reported annually in recent years.
"Early laboratory data indicates that [invasive group A streptococcus] disease activity in 2023 was higher compared to pre-pandemic years," a PHAC spokesperson said in an emailed statement shared with CTVNews.ca. "The largest increases continue to be detected in children under 15 years of age."..
