5,000 students to be offered key vaccine after rapid spread | UK | News
Meningitis outbreak reported at the University of Kent (Image: Getty)
Nearly 5,000 students are being urged to get vaccinated following a deadly meningitis outbreak in Kent.
Students in university halls of residence in Kent will be offered the meningitis B (menB) vaccine in the coming days in a bid to stop the deadly disease from spreading further. 15 cases of meningitis, including two deaths, have been reported to the United Kingdom Health Safety Agency (UKHSA). All cases required hospitalization. Four cases were confirmed to be male B.
The number of cases is expected to increase because the incubation period of the infection is 2 to 14 days.
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Hundreds of people are being offered antibiotics as emergency treatment. A single Ciprofloxacin tablet appears to reduce the risk of meningitis at home by around 80% to 90%.
Health Minister Wes Streeting said on Tuesday (March 17) that most students will not currently be vaccinated against menB and that vaccinations will begin in the next few days.
He told MPs: “This is an unprecedented epidemic. It is also a rapidly evolving situation.”
The MenB vaccine has been available on the NHS since 2015 as part of routine childhood vaccinations.
Mr Streeting said “clearly most students will not be vaccinated”.
“Given the seriousness of the situation, I can confirm to the House that we will be embarking on a targeted vaccination program for students living in halls of residence at the University of Kent in Canterbury, which will begin in the coming days.”
The vaccination program may be extended to other people thought to be at risk of the disease.
Experts are concerned about the number of cases appearing in such a short time.
UKHSA chief executive Susan Hopkins said: “This looks like a superspreader event continuing to spread in university halls of residence.” he said.
“There will be some parties, especially around this, so there will be a lot of social mixing.”
He said this was the most cases of this type of infection he had seen in a single weekend.
“What is unprecedented here is the explosive nature – the number of cases in such a short period of time.”
Many of those affected are believed to have attended the Chemistry Club in Canterbury between 5 and 7 March.
During this time, those who join Club Chemistry can collect antibiotics from:
– Gate Clinic at Kent and Canterbury Hospital
– Westgate Hall on Westgate Hall Road, Canterbury
– Carey Building, Thanet Centre, Margate Northwood Road
– University of Kent Senate building
