Supercharged "clones" trigger the re-emergence of scarlet fever

Supercharged "clones" trigger the re-emergence of scarlet fever

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Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.Oct 6 2020

A University of Queensland-led team of international researchers says supercharged "clones" of the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes are to blame for the resurgence of the disease, which has caused high death rates for centuries.

UQ's Dr Stephan Brouwer said health authorities globally were surprised when an epidemic was detected in Asian countries in 2011.

"The disease had mostly dissipated by the 1940s," Dr Brouwer said.