UK on watching antibiotics supplies amid infection surge

The British health minister said on Wednesday the UK has a good supply of penicillin amid high demand linked to bacterial infections in children.

Nine school-age children have been confirmed to have died from illnesses linked to group A streptococcus, or strep A, infections in the UK in recent weeks.

Strep A, which can cause illness is usually a mild infection that is easily treated with antibiotics. An invasive form of the bacteria has increased this year, particularly among schoolchildren. Schools Minister Nick Gibb had suggested antibiotics could be provided to schools in an attempt to slow the spread of infections.