Research and analysis

HPR volume 9 issue 19: news (5 June)

Updated 29 December 2015

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1. Group A streptococcal infections: fifth update on seasonal activity, 2014 to 2015

Public Health England is continuing to monitor notifications of scarlet fever cases in England following the substantial elevation in notifications reported in the first quarter of 2015. Surveillance of scarlet fever shows a sustained reduction in levels of notified cases in England over recent weeks, although levels do remain slightly elevated.

According to the fifth report on Group A Streptococcus activity for the 2014 to 2015 season [1], as of the end of May 2015, scarlet fever activity has declined across the country and is showing a typical seasonal pattern. Invasive disease rates are above average, but remain within the upper bounds of normal seasonal levels for this time of year.

The full report on Group A Streptococcus infections activity for the 2014 to 2015 season is included in the PDF version of this issue of HPR.

1.1 Reference

  1. Group A streptococcal infections: fifth update on seasonal activity, 2014 to 2015 (see Group A Streptococcus infections: activity during the 2014 to 2015 season).

2. PHE issues seasonal tick-bite reminder

Anticipating the increased risk of tick-associated diseases during springtime, and the fact that untreated infections can result in serious illness, PHE recently issued a seasonal warning for the general public, referring to the latest guidance on prevention [1, 2].

Lyme disease is the most significant tick-borne infection in the UK. Although recorded incidence is low compared to some other European countries and North America, the most meaningful trend data available to PHE suggests that case numbers tripled between 2001 and 2012 to between 1000 and 2000 cases a year [1].

However, members of the public often remain unfamiliar with ticks, the associated disease risk and tick bite prevention measures. PHE is working with local councils to raise awareness of ticks and the risks to health.

A collection of up-to-date guidance on diagnosis, management and treatment, surveillance and epidemiology of Lyme disease (or Lyme borreliosis) is available on the ‘Lyme disease: guidance, data and analysis’ PHE webpage [3]. This includes advice on case referral for health professionals [4].

2.1 References

  1. Ticks and associated diseases: the dangers and reducing them, PHE news story, 22 May 2015.
  2. Tick bite risks and prevention of Lyme disease: factsheet, March 2015.
  3. Lyme disease: guidance, data and analysis, PHE health protection collection webpage.
  4. Suggested referral pathway for patients with symptoms related to Lyme disease, January 2015.
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