A P2 pupil at Black Mountain Primary School in Belfast has died after an illness linked to the Strep A infection
The Public Health Agency (PHA) has said there are currently no plans to close schools in Northern Ireland despite an unseasonal leap in the number of scarlet fever and Strep A cases.
It comes just hours after it emerged that a five-year-old child at a West Belfast primary school, where last week a severe case of the Strep A bacterial infection was reported, has died.
The P2 pupil at Black Mountain Primary School became severely ill last week and was treated in intensive care at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, but sadly died on Monday evening.
On Friday the PHA sent a letter to parents of P1 to P3 children at the school in which children were asked to attend a clinic to be seen by a doctor and receive a preventative course of antibiotics.
Black Mountain PS said the girl's death was a tragic loss to the school community.
To date, nine children have died with a form of Strep A. Strep A infections are usually mild and can be easily treated with antibiotics.
Illnesses caused by the Group A strep bacteria include skin infection impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat.
There has also been a big leap in the number of scarlet fever cases. Symptoms of scarlet fever include sore throat, headache and fever, along with a fine, pinkish or red body rash with a "sandpapery" feel. On darker skin, the rash can be harder to see but will still be "sandpapery".
Strep A infections can develop into a more serious invasive Group A Strep (iGAS) infection - though this is rare.
The PHA has again urged parents and carers to be aware of scarlet fever symptoms after an increase in the number of cases at schools and nurseries across the region.
It said this follows two years during the coronavirus pandemic when reported cases were lower than usual. Clusters of scarlet fever have been reported at schools and nurseries in Antrim, Belfast, Bangor, Craigavon and Kilkeel.