DYFED-POWYS POLICE have confirmed the name of an eight-year-old girl who died in Lampeter on December 22.
Following the child’s death a 33-year-old woman was arrested and has been released as inquiries continue.
Public Health Wales has confirmed to Herald.Wales it is looking into links between the child’s death and strep A.
The police statement reads: “We can confirm that the eight-year-old girl who died in Lampeter on December 22, 2022 was Emily Tredwell-Scott.
“HM Coroner for Ceredigion has been informed and has accepted jurisdiction of the case.
“Enquiries are ongoing.”
Dr Graham Brown, consultant in communicable disease control for Public Health Wales, said: “Public Health Wales is working with Hywel Dda University health board and Ceredigion council following the death of a child in Lampeter.
“We offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and all those affected. Public Health Wales cannot comment on individual cases. We are investigating links to invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS), a very rare complication of group A streptococcal infection.
“While we understand that parents are likely to be worried, cases of iGAS remain rare in Wales and children have a very low risk of contracting the disease.”
The death of Emily Tredwell-Scott follows those of seven-year-old Hanna Roap, from Penarth, south Wales, and a child from Powys who has not been named.
Both families have confirmed the cause of death of both children was iGAS.
The most recent data from the UK Health Security Agency shows 21 children under 18 in England have died from invasive strep A disease while three deaths of children have been recorded in Belfast and Wales.
Group A strep bacteria can cause many different infections, ranging from minor illnesses to deadly diseases.
Illnesses caused by strep A include the skin infection impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat, and the vast majority of infections are relatively mild.
