Scarlet fever defences lowered

September 28, 2011

The Centre for Health Protection will discontinue its enhanced surveillance mechanism and daily update on scarlet fever on its website from October 1, as no significant increase in cases has been seen since schools resumed on September 1.
 
The Department of Health said today local scarlet fever activity has declined by 80% from the peak level in late June.
 
Although the peak period has passed, about 50 cases are still expected to be reported every week, it said, urging the public to maintain vigilance in preventing infection.
 
The centre will publish updates on scarlet fever in its biweekly online update Communicable Diseases Watch and continue to closely monitor the illness.