EU fights GAS resistance

Published: 1-Dec-2002


An EU research project into so-called 'killer bacteria' (Group A Streptococci - (GAS) infections), has been launched with a Euro 1.2m European Commission grant. Universities, government institutes for infectious diseases and a private laboratory will take part in the study, coordinated by researchers from Lund University in Sweden. The project is aimed at developing vaccines against the bacteria, which are becoming increasingly common in Europe.

The overall co-ordinator, Professor Claes Schalen, said: 'Since the late 1980s we have seen serious GAS infections increase all over Europe. In Sweden we now have 300-500 cases per year. We are not certain about the cause of these infections.' GAS infections often appear as tonsillitis or impetigo, but can also enter the body in other ways, such as via sores.

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