Malta has seen a sharp increase in cases of scarlet fever, which almost tripled between 2008 and last year amid global fears that the disease is making an unwelcome comeback.
Figures from the Disease Surveillance Unit show there were 100 cases of scarlet fever last year, a jump from the 37 registered in 2008, and a surge from the eight cases in the previous 11 years.
The reason behind this increase is believed to be two-fold - a real increase coupled with more awareness.
"We are seeing an increase in cases across Europe. Moreover, parents are more aware of the symptoms and take their children to see a doctor when they see a rash," Health Promotion and Disease Prevention director Charmaine Gauci told The Sunday Times.
Dr Gauci said doctors have also been made more aware of the condition, and were urged to notify the health authorities when they come across any cases. In February 2008, the authorities sent a circular to family doctors to keep their eyes open for the illness.
"It could be a case of over reporting that contributed to the increase," Dr Gauci said.
Scarlet fever, known as scarlatina, is a complication of the streptococcus bacteria, which normally causes the common sore throat. In fact, the disease normally occurs after a throat or skin infection.
The tell-tale symptom is a pin-point red rash that spreads across the chest, neck and upper back, giving the disease its name. Other symptoms include a strawberry-coloured tongue and peeling skin on the tips of the fingers, toes and ears.
Although the red fever epidemic killed thousands in the 19th century, today it is well controlled with antibiotics.
"If caught early, it can be treated with antibiotics to avoid complications," Dr Gauci said, adding that no resistance to antibiotics had been seen.
Last year, British public health experts expressed concern that the disease could be becoming more infectious, and the UK's Health Protection Agency started enhanced surveillance to study the number of cases and look for unusual signs.
Scarlet fever emerged in the public eye locally in January 2008 when five children attending the same class in a Gozo primary school fell ill.
A month later there was a small outbreak in another school in Gozo, followed by another outbreak in the same school a week later. There was another outbreak in Gozo at the end of March 2008 and another in Malta two months later.
Early last year a case at the Gżira kindergarten led to parents picking their children up from school earlier than usual, underlining the fear still attached to this disease.