19.9.2024
St Thomas CE Primary School
Dear Parent / Guardian
Re: Invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS)
We have been informed that a child who attends St Thomas CE Primary School has been diagnosed with Invasive Group A streptococcal disease (iGAS).
We have sought advice from UK Health Security Agency Northwest Health Protection Team. They have advised thatthere is no reason for children to be kept at home if well and school activities can continue as normal.
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a bacterium often found in the throat and on the skin. People can carry GAS and have no symptoms of illness or may develop infection. Most GAS infections cause relatively mild illnesses such as sore throats ("strep throat"), mild fever and minor skin infections or rashes (impetigo, scarlet fever). On rare occasions, for example when chickenpox infection is also present, these bacteria can cause other severe and even life-threatening infection. The most important thing to be aware of are the early signs and symptoms of invasive disease which are shown in the box below.
If your child develops any of these symptoms, you should seek medical advice for your child immediately. Tell the doctor that your child has been in contact with someone recently diagnosed with iGAS disease and has developed some symptoms that you are worried about. It is very likely that the doctor will ask you to come into the surgery so they can examine your child. Please take this letter with you.
If your child develops a mild infection such as a sore throat, mild fever, skin infection or rash, we advise that you take them (along with this letter) to see their GP. The GP can arrange for your child to be tested if necessary and treated with antibiotics. If so, your child will also need to remain off school/nursery for 24 hours following the start of the antibiotics.
Infection control advice:
The Health Protection Team have advised us on hygiene measures to help prevent spread of infection within our school / nursery. Parents/guardians can also help with this by reminding children of the importance of coughing / sneezing into tissues and placing these in the bin, washing hands regularly and ensuring any breaks to the skin are covered with a waterproof plaster/dressing before attending school / nursery.
Further information:
You can find more information at:
If you have any further questions, please contact the school on 0161 633 0539
Yours sincerely
Paul McGrath