During the second half of November 2022, clinicians and pediatric intensive care specialists reported to Santé publique France and the Regional Health Agencies (ARS) a higher-than-usual number of pediatric cases of invasive Group A Streptococcus (IGAS) infections in their departments, some of which were fatal. These reports came from various regions (Occitanie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine) and primarily involved children under the age of 10.

To objectively assess an increase in cases toward the end of 2022, an initial analysis was conducted using nationally available data on Group A Streptococcus infections.

Key points

• Increase in non-invasive Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections, particularly scarlet fever, since September 2022. The levels observed are close to those seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Increase in invasive GAS infections in France in 2022, particularly pronounced since November among children, with levels exceeding those of 2019.

• These observations come against a backdrop where, during 2020 and 2021—likely due to the preventive measures implemented for COVID-19—the incidence of GAS infections was particularly low.

• The current epidemiological situation regarding invasive Group A Streptococcus infections is not linked to the emergence of a new bacterial strain but is primarily associated with two already known genotypes (emm12 and emm1).