The HSE has confirmed a child under five has died in Ireland linked to an infection of Strep A.
It said local public health is supporting the family and the child's school.
GPs and hospitals have been asked to be vigilant for the bug, which can normally be treated with antibiotics.
Strep A infection Ireland: What is it, top symptoms, can adults get it and how it’s spreadhttps://t.co/lfY2rTfHfx
— Irish Daily Mirror (@IrishMirror) December 7, 2022
Minister Simon Coveney says the HSE is monitoring its spread: "I expect our department of Health and the HSE in Ireland are following developments very closely.
"Of course, as ever, there will be an ongoing dialogue between North and South in relation to healthcare provisions.
"That happened right the way through Brexit despite political differences of opinion."
Unfortunately, there have been eight other children that have died from a form of Strep A in the UK.
To date, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been notified of 55 invasive Group A Strep cases in Ireland, 14 of which were children aged under 10 years. This compares to 22 cases in children aged under 10 for the said period in 2019.
21 of the 55 iGAS cases notified in Ireland this year have been reported since the beginning of October, four of which were children.
