Parts of the Cariboo have seen an uptick in group A strep in last year.
In 2023, there were nine cases of severe invasive group A strep in the Cariboo Chilcotin region, compared to an average of four cases in the five years previous.
Medical Health Officer, Carol Fenton says vulnerability to the strain can be prevented.
“There are a variety of factors that can increase the risk. A very common one is a recent viral infection, like influenza or Covid, which can weaken the immune system and for some reason cause the group A strep to decide to be severe and invasive.”
She says the thing that makes group A strep different from typical strep is the severity and invasiveness, which can be extremely severe skin infections, as well as lung or blood infections that are severe enough to put one in the hospital and can kill.
Fenton added that prevention steps shouldn’t be new to anyone, as vaccinations preventing viral infections are one, as well as washing hands, cleaning wounds and watching out for infections, staying home when sick, and seeing a health care provider if infections don’t improve.