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CHP: Scientific Committee Statement On Scarlet Fever

 

 

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Photo Credit – CDC PHIL : Photomicrograph of Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria, 900x Mag.

 


From their Centre For Health Protection we have a consensus view statement issued by the Scientific Committee (SC) on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases and Scientific Committee on Advanced Data Analysis and Disease Modelling on the ongoing Scarlet Fever outbreak in Hong Kong.

 

You can find previous reports on this outbreak at:

Updating Hong Kong’s Scarlet Fever Outbreak
More On Hong Kong's Scarlet Fever Outbreak
When Old Bacteria Learns New Tricks

 

 

This latest statement, dated 6/27/2011 can be found at:

 

Statement of the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases and the Scientific Committee of Advanced Data Analysis and Disease Modelling on Scarlet Fever

 

Excerpts:

  • The rise of scarlet fever (SF) cases in Hong Kong is likely a regional phenomenon.

 

  • The overall epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of SF cases  in this outbreak  resemble  those  in  the past, although  infrequently some cases may have atypical clinical presentation.

 

  • The case fatality rate so far  is not significantly higher than historical or international figures.

 

  • A number of different Group A Streptococcus (GAS) strains causing SF are circulating in the community.

 

  • The  underlying  reasons  for  the  SF  upsurge  are  being  further investigated,  including  a  new  genetic  fragment  inserted  in  the bacterial genome, clone shuffling effects and others.

 

  • The  contribution  of  new  GAS  clone(s)  with  altered  genetic characteristics  causing  this  outbreak  remains  to  be  further investigated.

  • For patients with  suspected SF,  the penicillin group of  antibiotics  is the treatment of choice and should be given for at least 10 days.

  • Judicious  use  of  antibiotics  is  important  in  preventing  the development  of  bacterial  resistance.    Microbiological  testing  by antigen  testing  and  culture  should  be  considered  to  guide antimicrobial  therapy.    Patients with  only  runny  nose without  fever should not be considered for antimicrobial therapy unless the clinical condition changes or the microbiological test is positive for GAS.

  • High  SF  activity will  probably  persist  for  a  period  of  time  into  the summer.  The situation needs to be closely monitored to guide public health measures.  

The Committee recommends:

  • studies  be  done  to  characterize  the  role  and  prevalence  of  new genetic  changes  and  to  project  the  outlook  of  the  outbreak  over time

  • continued  intensive  surveillance  for  SF  and  invasive  GAS infections including acute rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis

  • strengthening  publicity  and  education  on  the  appropriate  use  of antibiotics 

  • close  communications  with  healthcare  professionals  on  the progression of  the outbreak and  information pertaining  to clinical diagnosis and management of SF patients

 

 

These views are also summarized in a press release issued today (6/28) from the Centre For Health Protection (CHP):

 

Update on scarlet fever in Hong Kong 

The Scientific Committee (SC) on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases and Scientific Committee on Advanced Data Analysis and Disease Modelling under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) held a joint meeting today (June 27) to review and discuss the upsurge of scarlet fever (SF) in Hong Kong.

(Continue . . . )

 

As of this writing (0530 EST), the CHP website had not updated their daily tally of Scarlet Fever Cases.  As of yesterday, more than 600 cases had been reported in Hong Kong, and there are reports of thousands more on the mainland.

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