Health workers trying to control rare strep outbreak in homeless population

There’s an outbreak of a newly identified, rare strain of Group A Streptococcus bacteria in Anchorage that’s mostly impacting people who are experiencing homelessness. Public health workers will be visiting Brother Francis Shelter, Beans’ Cafe, and other services this week to distribute antibiotics and antiseptics to try to stop the spread of the disease.
State epidemiologist Joe McLaughlin said the bacteria is fairly common. Most healthy people don’t show any symptoms or