All health centres in the N.W.T. have been alerted to an outbreak of bacteria that can cause scarlet fever.

Group A streptococcus also causes strep throat.

Wanda White, manager for N.W.T.’s Health Protection Unit, says strep throat is common at this time of year and can progress to scarlet fever if left untreated.

Wanda White, manager for N.W.T.’s Health Protection Unit, says strep throat is common at this time of year.

"If it’s left untreated, it releases a toxin and it’s the toxin that goes throughout the body that causes that red, kind of sandpaper rash that you can see, like almost a sunburn but it feels rough,” she said.

“And if you see that, that is a sure sign that your child, and usually it’s in children, has a strep throat that’s now going into what we call scarlet fever.”

More than 100 cases of the infection have been reported in Yellowknife.

Before antibiotics were introduced in the 1950s, scarlet fever was the leading cause of death among children.

“All the messages you usually hear, it’s about viruses,” she said. “If your child has a virus and they’re not as sick, keep them home, keep them hydrated and it will go away."

“Strep is very different. We want you to go to the doctor or nurse, get it diagnosed and get treated,” White added.

The bacteria are extremely contagious but treatable with antibiotics. If treated immediately, strep throat will not progress to scarlet fever, which can affect the heart, kidneys and other parts of the body.

Anyone with symptoms of a sore throat, fever, and vomiting is being advised to see a doctor.