Links to Strep A are being investigated following the death of a child in Powys, say health officials.

Public Health Wales has said that people identified for public health action have already been contacted and provided with appropriate treatment and advice.

Dr Ardiana Gjini, a consultant in communicable disease control at Public Health Wales said: "We offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and all those affected.

"A multi-agency incident management team is following normal processes, and investigating links to invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS), a very rare complication of group A streptococcal infection.

"People identified for public health action have already been contacted and provided with appropriate treatment and advice.

"Individuals who have not been contacted do not need to take any specific action.

"However we remind parents to be vigilant for signs and symptoms of scarlet fever and iGAS."

Public Health Wales has launched a new symptoms checker tool to help parents spot the signs of Strep A. It is hoped it will help parents decide when to treat their child at home and when it is appropriate to seek medical advice. It follows an escalation in the number of calls to NHS 111 Wales last weekend.

There were over 18,000 calls – more than double the calls received on the same weekend last year. Health officials say a significant proportion of these were from parents of children aged 12 years old and under and from those concerned about sore throats and throat problems.

Dr Graham Brown, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control for Public Health Wales, said: “We understand that parents are likely to be worried by reports they are seeing related to rising cases of scarlet fever and we want to reassure them that it is still usually a mild illness from which most children will recover without complications, especially if the condition is properly treated with antibiotics.

"In very rare cases, group A streptococcal infection can cause iGAS, a rare complication which usually affects fewer than 20 children in Wales each year. Although iGAS is a worrying condition, the majority of these children will recover with proper treatment.

"The best thing that parents can do to protect their children is to use the traffic light symptom checker tool and follow the appropriate advice. It’s also important that parents ensure their child gets their flu vaccine this year because catching flu can increase the chances of becoming severely unwell with secondary infections like Strep A.”

For the latest advice and information about Strep A from Public Health Wales, click here.