A map today highlighted the spread of scarlet fever across England and Wales amid the highest levels of cases since the 1960s.
Government data shows 15,549 have been struck down by the ‘Victorian’ infection so far this year.
This is almost double the 8,728 cases in the first 13 weeks of 2016, considered the worst year for scarlet fever in five decades.
Officials are unsure as to why it is continuing its rampage across Wales and England, but experts have blamed a fall in living standards.
Public Health England once again called for parents to be aware of the contagious infection and to look out for signs of scarlet fever.
The South East region of England was hit the hardest during the last week – with 348 cases of scarlet fever recorded. Some 277 cases of scarlet fever were noted in the North West and 191 in Yorkshire and the Humber
Data released today by the Government agency shows there were 1,624 cases of scarlet fever recorded in the week ending April 1.
The South East region of England was hit the hardest during the seven days – with 348 cases of the potentially fatal bug recorded.
Some 277 cases of scarlet fever were noted in the North West and 191 in Yorkshire and the Humber, the statistics also reveal.
At the other end of the scale, just 60 cases of scarlet fever were recorded in the West Midlands and 79 in the North East.
Nick Phin, deputy director of National Infection Service at PHE, claimed cases have not been this high in more than three decades.
He said: ‘The numbers we have seen this year have not been seen since 1982 when PHE took over responsibility for collecting data on notifiable diseases.
Scarlet fever is most common in children under 10. It causes a sore throat, fever and rash which can occasionally lead to pneumonia
‘It is important to be aware that, with treatment, scarlet fever is not usually a serious illness. The antibiotics used to treat the infection reduce the risk of spread to others.’
Mr Phin added that ‘it is not uncommon to see a rise in cases of scarlet fever at this time of year’ but PHE is ‘monitoring the situation closely’.
However, a study published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet back in November suggested cases have are the highest in 50 years.
An analysis showed there was a rate of 33 infections for every 100,000 people in 2016, with 19,206 recorded in total. This figure was the highest since 1967.
Scarlet fever is most common in children under 10. It causes a sore throat, fever and rash which can occasionally lead to pneumonia.
It was a very common infection in the Victorian era – and far more deadly – but cases dramatically reduced, partly due to better hygiene.
If treated promptly, the disease is restricted to no more than unpleasant symptoms.
However, it was a death sentence for hundreds of thousands in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Cases have been on the up since 2014, but officials have yet been able to pinpoint why they have shot up in the past three years.
Health officials remain unclear as to why scarlet fever has suddenly returned and blame ‘long-term natural cycles’.
But researchers in the US, where cases are also on the rise, have linked it to a super-resistant and aggressive strain of bacteria.
This theory has repeatedly been ruled out by PHE which claims to have not found any evidence despite rigorous lab testing.
It is expected that the numbers will continue to rise further over the coming weeks as the bacteria is most active in March and April.
The disease is caused by the bacteria group A streptococcus and spread through coughs and sneezes or touching contaminated objects.
In most cases it clears up by itself but GPs may prescribe penicillin if symptoms are particularly nasty and there is a risk of complications.
Experts have also previously blamed poor lifestyles, growing financial inequality and a fall in living standards for the sharp surge in cases of scarlet fever.
Other common Victorian diseases which were thought to have become things of the past but are now making a comeback include whooping cough and scurvy.