An eight-year-old boy in Greater Sudbury has died from invasive group A streptococcal disease, a fast-moving and severe bacterial infection that is on the rise in Canada.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts says it takes the same approach with all cases identified as invasive Group A strep in the region, including reaching out to close contacts once a case is confirmed. The health unit has not identified the boy, but friends and family online say that Jaxson Elvis Robert Simpson died on Feb.4 from the bacterial infection. A celebration of life was held in his honour at the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre in Sudbury on Sunday and a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help the family.
“On February 4th, 2024, one of my best (friends) and neighbour, Megan, went through something no parent should ever have to endure,” said Kaitlyn Mullally on the GoFundMe campaign page. “She lost her precious 8-year-old boy Jaxson. No parent should have to see the day where they bury their child. It’s supposed to be the opposite.”
The boy passed away at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto after being transported there from Health Sciences North.
According to his obituary, “Jaxson was a very smart and high energy little boy who always wanted to learn, always asked questions, and excelled at everything he did.”
According to the GoFundMe campaign, the boy came down with a fever, nausea and diarrhea, which seemed like “typical symptoms all of our children and us go through,” said Mullally.
However, the boy’s condition took a turn for the worse and became life-threatening.
“He was (airlifted) to Sick Kids in Toronto, and diagnosed with strep A virus,” Mullally wrote on the page. “They say every child reacts differently to the virus, and devastatingly, Jaxson was one of the rare cases where such a common virus, took his poor little life. Jaxson’s virus turned septic and there was nothing the doctors could do.”
Mullally said she is reaching out to friends, family and the broader community to help the boy’s mother financially. “Please consider donating for any costs she may incur as well as to help her be able to take the proper time off work that she needs during this difficult time,” she said.
Four strep A cases in region
Katie Junkin, a specialist with the health protection team at Public Health Sudbury and Districts, could not comment specifically on this case but disclosed there have been four cases of invasive strep A so far in 2024. Health authorities have observed a steady increase in severe cases across Canada and the province, since pre-pandemic. Specifically, in the Greater Sudbury region there were 25 cases in 2019. From 2020 to 2022, there was an increase in cases, to about 30-40 cases a year within this timeframe.
In 2023, there were 53 cases in the Greater Sudbury region, said Junkin. Four of those people from the Sudbury region died in 2023.
“We have noticed quite a steady incline in cases over the last five years,” said Junkin. “This is in line with what we are seeing in other areas of the province, with the northern areas being a little bit higher in terms of the incidence.”
Public Health Ontario is conducting more research into the trends and trying to identify whether there are risk factors involved that lead to more severe outcomes.
Junkin said once the health unit has been notified of a case, health officials investigate to identify anyone who might have been in close contact with the identified person, and then assess the need for preventive antibiotics.
“We follow up with all contacts regardless and we ask about any symptoms that they may be experiencing,” she said. “We would also advise contacts to monitor any signs or symptoms.” Symptoms include, but is not limited to, the development of a sore throat, joint pain, an unknown rash.
Typically, close contacts are household members, anyone who has spent four hours or more with the person in the previous seven days, anyone who shares a bed with the person or anyone with close contact with a mucous membrane.
Contacting schools could possibly be part of that follow-up process, she said.
Symptoms usually mild
Junkin said group A streptococcal disease is caused by a bacteria that can be found on human skin or in the throat or nasal cavities. It causes a sore throat and can lead to what most parents know as strep throat or in other cases, impetigo and scarlet fever.
It can occur naturally, explained Junkin, and many people can carry the bacteria without showing any symptoms. It becomes invasive when the bacteria is found in places in the human body that are normally considered sterile, such as in the blood, muscles and lungs.
“While regular group A streptococcal infections are typically mild, when they become invasive they can lead to quite severe disease and unfortunately, can turn life-threatening,” said Junkin.
In those severe cases, group A streptococcal can lead to pneumonia and flesh-eating disease, meningitis and toxic shock syndrome.
Junkin said group A streptococcal is spread through close contact with an infected person through coughing, sneezing, contact with a wound or sharing a contaminated needle.
“It does become more severe once it gets past the skin barrier and into the blood and into the tissues,” she said.
Junkin provided some advice to parents. She said the goal is to seek medical attention and treatment before the illness turns severe.
“If you are experiencing a severe sore throat without a cough or other respiratory tract symptoms, which can include running nose, sneezing, coughing, especially if you have a fever alongside with that sore throat, we would recommend you see your health care provider,” she said.
If you have a sandpaper-like rash on your skin or are experiencing extreme lethargy, contact your medical provider.
“A swab of the throat is quite quick and easy to identify that strep bacteria and when it is caught early, it is easily and effectively treated with antibiotics,” she said. “Earlier treatment is definitely important in terms of having a better outcome.”
Prevention steps include practising hygiene like washing hands before eating and cooking, being mindful about open wounds and seeking treatment with those wounds.
While there is no vaccine to protect against the streptococcal bacteria, Junkin recommends people stay up to date with their regular vaccine schedule.
How to help
The fundraising campaign in memory of Jaxson surpassed its $5,000 goal by Wednesday afternoon. To donate to the Remembering Jaxson campaign, go to tinyurl.com/2kymk37b.
