Canterbury, United Kingdom. Five new cases of meningitis have been identified in Kent in southeast England, bringing the total to 20 in an outbreak described by officials as unprecedented and linked to two deaths.
New cases and fatalities
All those currently linked to the outbreak are young adults, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. A 21-year-old student at the University of Kent and a teenage student at a school in Faversham have died.
The agency said it was also aware of a baby with confirmed Meningococcal group B infection who was not currently linked to the outbreak.
Officials’ assessment of the outbreak
Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the outbreak as unprecedented in terms of its spread. Streeting said the majority of cases were linked to the Club Chemistry nightclub in Canterbury between 5-7 March.
Symptoms and risk factors
The UKHSA said signs and symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia can include fever, headache, rapid breathing, drowsiness, shivering, vomiting, and cold hands and feet. Septicaemia can also cause a characteristic rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass.
The UKHSA said young people going to university or college for the first time are particularly at risk of meningitis because they mix with other students, some of whom may unknowingly carry the bacteria at the back of their nose and throat.
Response measures in Kent
The UKHSA said it had administered around 2,500 doses of antibiotics across sites in Kent.
UKHSA Regional Deputy Director for the South East Trish Mannes said the agency and the NHS were beginning to roll out a targeted MenB vaccination programme as a further precaution. The vaccination will initially be offered to 5,000 University of Kent students resident at the Canterbury campus, with possible extension under continual review.
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