Streptococcaceae

Japanese health authorities have issued a warning as the nation grapples with a significant uptick in potentially fatal strep throat infections, particularly in Tokyo. Cases have surged to approximately three times higher than last year's figures, prompting concerns among medical experts, Reuters reported.

Some 94 cases of streptococcus bacterial infection have been detected in the past 14 months, 23 of which resulted in death, among them 11 children under the age of 10, data from the National Organisation for Public Health (EODY) showed on Thursday.

Since the beginning of 2023, 94 cases of invasive Group A Streptococcus infection in both children and adults have been reported

A second hospital death in a week is being attributed to a very invasive form of streptococcal disease that infects the respiratory tract.

According to reports on Tuesday, the bacteria has been confirmed as the cause of death of a 28-year-old man in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, last week.

A 9-year-old girl from Didymoteicho, Thrace, died after experiencing acute respiratory failure due to a Streptococcus infection on Monday.

According to state broadcaster ERT, the girl was taken to the local hospital where she tested positive for the bacteria.

ERT reports that the girl's remains will be transported to Alexandroupolis, the region's capital, for an autopsy.

An 8-year-old succumbed to streptococcus at the Aglaia Kyriakou hospital in Athens on Tuesday, a few hours after its diagnosis, as confirmed by Michalis Giannakos, President of the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees on Wednesday. 

The European Commission approved the addition of the "Bulgarian white brine cheese" to the list of protected geographical indications of the EU. With today's decision, this traditional Bulgarian product enters the list of 1,646 already protected agricultural products. This quality scheme applies to foods and wines whose origin is linked to a specific place of production.

The health authorities in Greece reported the deaths of children infected with the streptococcal type A bacteria. It is recommended that parents limit the contact of their children.

The sixth death of a child due to the streptococcus A (Strep A) infection has been recorded in Greece since the beginning of 2023, according to the National Public Health Organization (EODY) on Monday.

The 7-year-old child died in a hospital in Thessaloniki.

Medical experts are expressing concern over indications that there has been an upsurge of streptococcal infections in children. The disease may not be systematically recorded in Greece, but pediatricians estimate that they have seen more cases this year compared to the pre-pandemic period.