8children have now died from Strep A: Pupil in Hampshire becomes latest victim of growing outbreak

The UK’s child death toll from the ongoing Strep A outbreak may have reached eight, with reports on another fatality in Hampshire.

Like the other seven deaths, the child died after contracting an invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) infection, a serious form of the usually mild disease.

Reports from local media say the child attended Morelands Primary School in Waterlooville.

The name of the child, their age, and if they were a boy or a girl are at this stage unknown.  

It is also unclear if the fatality is a new one, or if the school has just been notified that one of its pupils is of the previous seven deaths announced by health authorities. 

According to Portsmouth newspaper The News, Headteacher of the schoolAlison Syred-Paul said: ‘Very tragically, we have learned of the death in recent days of a child who attended our school, who was also diagnosed with an invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) infection.’

‘We are absolutely devastated by the loss of one of our young pupils and offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the child’s family at this extremely sad time.’