A girl who died from a strep A has been named.
Taleeya Amdesion, 12, died on December 1 at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.
At the opening of an inquest into her death, a provisional cause was listed as “invasive Group A Streptococcus septicaemia caused by pneumonia”.
A secondary cause of death was given as “influenza A infection”.
A family friend described Taleeya, a pupil at Hove Park School in Hangleton Way, as a "beautiful young girl" who was "taken too early".
School friends took to TikTok to pay tribute, with one commenting: "I miss her so much. I spoke to her last week, she was so healthy."
Another commenter said she was "heartbroken for her family".
The Argus understands that Taleeya was taken to the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital, on the same site as the Royal Sussex County Hospital, after being referred by her GP.
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At the time of her death, Dr Rachael Hornigold, consultant in health protection at teh UK Health Security Agency South East, said: “We are extremely saddened to hear about the death of a young child, and our thoughts are with their family, friends and the local community.
“Infection with Group A Streptococcus bacterium usually causes a sore throat, scarlet fever or skin rash and is passed by physical contact or through droplets from sneezing or coughing.
“In very rare cases, the infection can become invasive and enter parts of the body where bacteria aren’t normally found, which can be serious.
“We will implement public health actions including advice to the city council and school community.”
Illnesses caused by strep A include impetigo,scarlet fever and strep throat.
Figures released earlier this month by the UK Health Security Agency found that from September 19, 2022, until January 1, 2023, 29 children in England died of invasive strep A.
Brighton and Hove City Council previously wrote to parents and carers telling them to “familiarise themselves with the symptoms” and to contact NHS 111 or their GP surgery if they suspect their child has scarlet fever.
The inquest into Taleeya’s death was opened and adjourned until July 13.
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