The European Parliament,

–  having regard to Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–  having regard to Rule 133 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas scarlatina febris (hereinafter: scarlet fever) is a bacterial infection caused by the group A streptococcus, 80% of the incidence of which affects children between 3 and 8 years old;

B.  whereas scarlet fever is treated with penicillin or amoxicillin but can be accompanied by complications such as necrotising fasciitis or toxic shock syndrome, which are fatal in 20% and 60% of cases respectively;

C.  whereas scarlet fever is becoming more prevalent in the UK, with 5 746 cases reported between September 2014 and March 2015 as opposed to 2 830 cases over the corresponding period between 2013 and 2014, and whereas 593 cases of serious complications were reported between January and March 2016 as opposed to 440 during the same period the previous year;

1.  Urges the Commission to update its monitoring of invasive infectious diseases, with the assistance of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, taking note of the fresh outbreak of infections caused by group A streptococcus, and to establish an alert mechanism.