Schoolgirl, five, died from Strep A in hospital surrounded by devastated family as probe launched into tragic death

A FIVE-year-old girl died from Strep A in hospital surrounded by her devastated family, an inquest heard.

Meha Carneiro, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts, tragically passed away at King’s Mill Hospital on December 5.

A provisional post mortem, read out by assistant coroner Hannah Mettam at Nottingham Council House, found she died of Group A Streptococcus sepsis.

Opening an inquest into Meha’s death on Thursday, February 16, Ms Mettam said she was with her parents at the time of her passing.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to express my sincere condolences, particularly to her parents, at this difficult time,” she said.

The investigation into her death was adjourned to a date yet to be fixed.

It comes after 30 children in England have died of invasive Group Strep A this winter – a serious illness where the bacteria gets into the blood stream.

There have been 235 deaths in all age groups across England and over 40,000 notifications of scarlet fever as of January 29.

Last December, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the number of Strep A infections identified was unusually high for the time of year.

And there have also been 1,898 Invasive Group A Strep infections across all age groups as of February 3.

In rare cases, it can trigger serious illnesses including pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis.

Group A streptococcus (GAS) are a type of bacteria found in the throat and skin.

Invasive Group Strep A occurs if these bacteria get into the bloodstream or other areas where they shouldn’t be.

This can then lead to serious illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis.

Bacterial pneumonia happens when there is a swelling of the tissue in one or both lungs caused by infection.

When a person has pneumonia, the clusters of tiny air sacs at the end of your breathing tubes located in the lungs become filled with fluid.

UKHSA said while the number of cases have been dropping week-on-week, it is continuing to monitor the situation closely.

It said the infection is still “circulating at high levels”.