We have been notified by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) of a cluster of invasive Group A Streptococcal (GAS) infections in the local area among people who inject drugs.
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a type of bacteria often found in the throat and on the skin. It is easily spread between people through sneezing, kissing, skin contact and sharing injecting equipment.
People may have no symptoms of illness or they may have symptoms including:
- High Fever
- Severe muscle aches
- Localised muscle tenderness
- Redness at the site of a wound
If you develop any of these symptoms contact your GP or seek urgent medical advice immediately.
To reduce the risk of infection:
- Consider alternatives to injecting
- Wash your hands and the injecting site thoroughly before injecting
- Use new injecting equipment for every injection
- If injecting stimulants do not use citric acid or vitamin C
- If you have to inject, inject into a vein – injecting into muscle or skin causes more damage and increases the risk of infection
