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A primary school pupil in Belfast has died after contracting Strep A, making her the ninth child to die from the bacterial infection.
The child was treated at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children after becoming severely ill last week.
The pupil was in a P2 class, where children are usually aged between five and six, the school confirmed.
“Sadly, the governors, staff and students of Black Mountain Primary School have been informed of the death of one of our P2 pupils,” a spokesperson for the school said.
“This is a tragic loss to the Black Mountain Primary School family and our school community, and the thoughts of the entire school are with the pupil’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
They added: “A letter has been sent by the school to parents, informing them of our tragic loss and providing information on the support services available through school for our children during this incredibly sad time.
“We recognise that this news may cause worry amongst our school community and we want to reassure parents that we continue to work closely with the Public Health Agency at this time.”
Eight other pupils across the UK have died after contracting Strep A in recent weeks.
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