Update from UKHSA:
As you are aware the national helpline for queries on Group A strep (GAS) from educational settings has been functioning since 09 December 2022. This has allowed Health Protection Teams and Local Authorities to focus on the complex GAS and invasive GAS cases requiring specialist advice. As the numbers of cases are now steadily declining, we’ve been advised by the national team that the helpline will stand down from 6 pm on Friday 31st of March.
National guidance on managing outbreaks of scarlet fever and advice is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/scarlet-fever-managing-outbreaks-in-schools-and-nurseries
From Monday 3rd April, all enquiries will revert to the East of England Health Protection Team. Please note that our team continues to remain significantly busy with competing incidents and outbreaks, and therefore the response to GAS enquiries from educational settings will be based on the outcome of our triage (protracted outbreaks, co-circulating chicken pox / flu, invasive GAS cases, settings caring for immunosuppressed children)
Our day time hours of operation are 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. Non-urgent enquiries should be emailed to us on [email protected]. Urgent enquiries on 0300303853 option 1
Our out of hours on call service is dedicated for urgent / emergency calls only.