Kent meningitis outbreak: a timeline of the health authorities’ response | Meningitis
Two young people lost their lives in the meningitis epidemic that occurred due to the depletion of private vaccine stocks in Kent. Here’s what we know about how the disease spreads and what authorities are doing to combat it.
5-7 March
All cases of the meningitis outbreak have been linked to people who attended Club Chemistry nightclub in Canterbury, Kent, on 5, 6 or 7 March. The club has since closed voluntarily. Anyone who attended the club on these dates or believed they had been in close contact with someone who attended was asked to accept the offer of antibiotics.
Friday, March 13
The United Kingdom Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) has been informed of the first case in which a student at the University of Kent was diagnosed with meningitis. Health officials began identifying and tracking the patient’s close contacts. All were offered prophylactic antibiotics.
Saturday, March 14
French authorities alerted the UKHSA to a second case confirmed in France from a person who attended the University of Kent. The first cases were both living in private accommodation but there was no apparent link between the two.
14 March 19:00
Hospitals reported large numbers of seriously ill young people, all presenting with symptoms consistent with meningococcal disease. Contact tracing of these people was started immediately. By Tuesday, 700 doses of antibiotics had been administered.
Sunday, March 15 at 10.00
UKHSA has launched a full-scale response, including preparations for wider distribution of antibiotics on the university campus in Canterbury. As of 17:00, distribution started to students in two dormitories.
Sunday, March 16, 18.00
A public health alert was issued after it was confirmed that two people had died in the epidemic. It was later confirmed that one was a Year 13 student at the University of Kent and the other at a school in Faversham.
Monday, March 16
UKHSA contacted headteachers of two schools where two cases involving sixth form pupils were identified, including the school in Faversham where one pupil died. Letters to parents were published.
Tuesday, March 17, 9.30 am
The UKHSA confirmed that tests showed the outbreak was caused by the meningitis B bacterial strain, known as MenB. Four of the initial cases, including two deaths, were identified as this strain, and 11 other cases are under investigation. The UKHSA also confirmed that not all those born before 2015 had been vaccinated against MenB.
Tuesday, March 17, 12.30
The UKHSA has announced a targeted vaccination program against MenB for students living in halls of residence at the University of Kent in Canterbury. It is said that the program may be expanded later.
