'Hypervirulent' strain of strep outbreak identified in Arizona and the Southwest
Monday, March 21, 2016 - 15:20
in Health & Medicine
A research team has helped state, local and tribal health officials identify an outbreak of 'hypervirulent' strep bacteria in the American Southwest. Identified in Flagstaff, Ariz., from January to July 2015, this outbreak of the emm59 clone of group A Streptococcus is directly related to cases identified recently in New Mexico. This strain type appears to have evolved from a nationwide outbreak in Canada that lasted from 2006-09, according to a report.