Lisa Melrose’s daughter, Evie, fell ill in October 2022 with a mysterious illness that left the six-year-old displaying worrying symptoms. Despite trying calpol and nurofen, Evie’s condition did not improve, leading to a frightening experience for her mum. Evie was later diagnosed with Strep A, a bacteria known to cause various illnesses including nausea, vomiting, sore throat, and flu-like symptoms.
The UK was in the midst of a Strep A outbreak at the time, which claimed the lives of several children, including three in Scotland. After being prescribed antibiotics, Evie took a few days to recover, but the experience was not unique. Lisa, who works as a baby sensory teacher, discovered that many parents in her classes had also dealt with Strep A in their households.
Fiona Robertson’s son, Blair, also fell ill with Strep A, which developed into scarlet fever, leading to a scary ordeal where he had to be hospitalized. To combat the spread of this dangerous bacteria, scientists at Dundee University are leading a £2.3m project to develop the world’s first vaccine for Strep A in collaboration with experts from London and South Korea.
Strep A, caused by strains of the streptococcus pyogenes bacterium, can lead to mild illnesses like strep throat or more serious conditions like invasive GAS, which requires urgent treatment. The research aims to identify key components for vaccine development to protect patients from outbreaks in different countries. Clinical trials are expected to follow, with the goal of having a vaccine available within the next decade.
Overall, the project represents a significant step towards combating Strep A and potentially saving lives in the future.