Most countries in the Region have included management of a “throat problem”—including streptococcal pharyngitis—in their adaptation of the IMCI clinical guidelines. A series of discussion papers has recently been developed by the Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development (CAH/HQ) on Group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) disease burden estimates, possible control strategies and current vaccine development status. The papers include: “The current evidence for the burden of group A streptococcal diseases”, “A review of the technical basis for the control of conditions associated with GAS infections”, and “Group A streptococcal vaccine development: current status and issues of relevance to less developed countries”.