© MARC HERREMANS – MEDIA HOUSE
In the province of Antwerp, there are a lot more cases of streptococci than usual. The bacteria mainly affects children and young adults. VRT NWS reports this on Tuesday.
ltoBron: BELGIAN
The University Hospital of Antwerp (UZA) admitted 25 patients in December after an infection with streptococci. “Normally we see those serious streptococcal infections a few times a year, now there are 25 in a month,” Philippe Jorens of UZA reports to the public broadcaster.
It would mainly concern healthy children who first got the flu and also become infected with streptococcus, a bacteria. Streptococcal infections usually cause mild illness and can be treated well with antibiotics. Very occasionally, the infection can lead to serious complications.
In the university hospitals of Leuven and Ghent, more streptococcal infections are also said to be seen in children, although the increase is less pronounced there. The World Health Organization (WHO) already called for vigilance last year.