Invasive strep outbreak claims lives of 4 Alaskans

Four Alaskans have died this year in an outbreak of invasive strep bacteria that has mostly affected the homeless and Alaska Natives in the state’s two largest cities.
State epidemiologist Joe McLaughlin says there have been 28 confirmed hospitalization cases of a new strain of Group A Streptococcus bacteria, starting with 10 cases in Fairbanks and, more recently, 18 cases in Anchorage. Two of the deaths occurred in Fairbanks and two in Anchorage.
Another three probable cases in Anchorage