Record number of invasive strep A infections in Canada, 6 children dead in Ontario

Canada's public health agency has logged a record number of potentially deadly strep A infections, particularly in children under the age of 15. At least six children have died in Ontario.

Canada's public health agency has logged a record number of potentially deadly strep A infections, particularly in children under the age of 15. At least six children have died in Ontario.

"The concern is that it can be rapidly progressive and life-threatening," Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, head of critical care at The Ottawa Hospital, told CTV News Channel. "We've seen more cases of this in our intensive care unit, and the results have been pretty significant where people have lost their limbs, people have passed away."

As of Jan. 9, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has received more than 4,600 invasive group A streptococcus samples from 2023, which is the highest annual total ever recorded in Canada and a more than 40 per cent increase over a previous 2019 peak of 3,236 cases. According to PHAC, invasive group A streptococcus is endemic in the country, with 2,000 to 3,000 cases reported annually in recent years.

"Early laboratory data indicates that [invasive group A streptococcus] disease activity in 2023 was higher compared to pre-pandemic years," a PHAC spokesperson said in an emailed statement shared with CTVNews.ca. "The largest increases continue to be detected in children under 15 years of age."

Infections from group A streptococcus bacteria are typically mild and can cause strep throat, which is usually treated with antibiotics. More severe and invasive infections are much less common, but potentially deadly.

Invasive group A streptococcus occurs when strep A bacteria causes a deeper infection that can lead to lung infections like pneumonia, debilitating flesh-eating disease, or even toxic shock syndrome, which is when bacteria produces toxins that cause organs in the body to stop functioning. Approximately one in 10 people die from invasive infections, according to a U.S. study. Serious outcomes can include amputation and major organ damage.

"An invasive infection really means the bacteria has moved to a site that should normally be sterile, such as the blood or under the skin in soft tissue or muscle," University of Western Ontario microbiology and immunology professor John McCormick told CTVNews.ca. "This is what is sometimes called the flesh-eating disease and can progress very quickly. These infections can present in different ways but severe pain that is out of proportion to what you see is a common symptom, or something that would suggest a spreading infection or skin colour changes."