Strep A: Map shows the region with the highest rate of scarlet fever infections

At least 19 children have now died in the UK from invasive strep A disease, latest figures show.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows 16 children under the age of 18 have died in England since September.

Three more deaths of children have been recorded in Belfast and Wales, taking the UK total to 19.

Group A strep bacteria can cause many different infections, including the skin infection impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat.

The UKHSA has said there is no current evidence that a new strain is circulating and the rise in cases is most likely due to high amounts of circulating bacteria and increased social mixing.

It said that, since September, there have been 7,750 notifications of scarlet fever, more than three times the number in the last high season in 2017/18.

Officials believe the number of scarlet fever infections in the UK has not yet peaked.

While the vast majority of infections are relatively mild, sometimes the bacteria cause a life-threatening illness called invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) disease.

They are also hoping the Christmas school holidays will break the chain of infection and hopefully bring numbers down.

Read more: Strep A: Father warns he took daughter, 5, to hospital three times before she died

The North East of England currently has the highest rate of scarlet fever infections in England at 28.9 per 100,000.

This is significantly higher than the rest of the country, with no other region above 20 - the North West has the second highest at 18.7.

The West Midlands has recorded 9.5 per 100,000, the South West on 8.7 and London the lowest on 8.1.

The South East is on 14.7 and the East of England on 13.6.

When looking at the more dangerous Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) infection, Yorkshire and the Humber has the highest rate at 2.1 per 100,000, with the South West (1.8) and South East (1.7) suffering the second and third highest.

Read more: Strep A: GPs urged to apply 'low threshold' for sending children to hospital

London again remains low at 1.1 and the East of England has the lowest at 1 iGAS infection per 100,000.

There have been 111 iGAS cases in children aged one to four and 74 cases in children aged five to nine.

The spread of scarlet fever has put pressure on the supply of some of the drugs used to treat strep A infections, including penicillin.

The government has acknowledged the shortage and has introduced serious shortage protocols (SSPs) for three penicillin medicines.

The move means pharmacists can legally supply alternative forms of the medicine if they do not have the specific formulation stated on the prescription, such as an oral solution.

The SSPs, which cover the entire UK, are intended to lessen the need for patients to return to their GP for a different prescription when they cannot get hold of a medicine. Penicillin comes as liquid, sugar-free liquid and pills.