Cuirfear in iúl do scoileanna gur chóir leanaí a bhfuil fiabhras, casacht nó scornach tinn orthu a choinneáil sa bhaile chun dul i ngleic le Strep A.

Tháinig an rabhadh nuair a deimhníodh go bhfuil leanbh ceithre bliana d'aois básaithe ó Strep A, in oirthear na tíre.

Tabharfar le fios i litir a sheol an HSE chuig scoileanna go bhfuil ‘méadú mór ar ionfhabhtuithe víreasacha ginearálta (general viral infections) i measc leanaí agus daoine óga an geimhreadh seo.’

Tugann an litir foláireamh freisin go raibh ‘imní le déanaí faoi ionfhabhtú baictéarach neamhchoitianta (rare bacterial infection)’, Strep A.

Dúirt an Príomhofigeach Leighis (Chief Medical Officer), an tOllamh Breda Smyth: ‘Ar an drochuair, is féidir liom a dhearbhú go bhfuil baint ag Strep A Ionrach i mbás amháin in Éirinn, leanbh a bhí ann.

'Is ócáid an-bhrónach í seo agus ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón ó chroí a chur in iúl do theaghlach na ndaoine atá faoi bhrón.'

‘Mar is eol duit ní dhéanaim trácht ar chásanna aonair ach maidir le Grúpa A Strep sílim go bhfuil sé tábhachtach mar beidh go leor imní ann agus mar sin tá sé tábhachtach go mbeadh a fhios ag tuismitheoirí gur ionfhabhtuithe éadroma (mild infections)  formhór na gcásanna de Ghrúpa A Strep. agus is féidir cóireáil (treated) a dhéanamh orthu le antaibheathaigh (antibiotics),' a dúirt sí le Virgin Media.

Tá imní ag dul i méid maidir le Strep A i measc leanaí, tar éis d’athair croíbhriste ómós brónach a thabhairt faoi a iníon cúig bliana d'aois. Ba í an chéad íospartaigh Strep A dearbhaithe (confirmed) in Éirinn.

Chuaigh Stella-Lily McCorkindale, as iarthar Bhéal Feirste, chuig ospidéal leis an ionfhabhtú an tseachtain seo caite agus fuair sí bás in Ospidéal Ríoga Victoria, Béal Feirste, Dé Luain, i láthair a hathar Robert agus a máthair Colette.

Chuimhnigh Robert uirthi inné leis na focail: ‘Ba bhreá linn gach nóiméad le chéile, ag siúl an bhóthair seo ar ár turais scútair nó ar ár turais rothair, siopadóireacht in Iceland agus cónaí in aice leis na comharsana is fearr a shiúil an domhan seo riamh.’

Schools will be advised that children with a fever, cough or sore throat should be kept at home in a bid to tackle Strep A.

The warning comes after it was confirmed that a four-year-old child has died from Step A S, in the east of the country the Chief Medical Officer has confirmed.

A letter sent to schools by the HSE will advise that it has seen a 'large increase in general viral infections among children and young people this winter.'

The letter also warns that ‘there have also been recent concerns about a rare bacterial infection’ Strep A.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Breda Smyth said: 'Unfortunately I can confirm that there has been one Invasive Strep A associated death here in Ireland in a child.

'This is a very sad event so I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to the family of the bereaved.'

'As you know I don't comment on individual cases but with regards to Group A Strep I think it's important as there will be a lot of anxiety so it's important for parents to know that the majority of cases of Group A Strep are mild infections and can be treated with antibiotics,' she told Virgin Media.

Earlier she told Morning Ireland: 'We do also know that because it is such a common bacteria, 20% of us in the population actually walk around with it in the back of our nose or in our throat, and it may not affect us at all, however it can give rise to mild infection such as skin infections and throat infections, and it is treatable with antibiotics.’

'However, in a small number of cases it can go on to develop more severe infection'.