Another college confirms student is ill with meningitis ‘not linked to Kent outbreak’ that has left two people dead – as cases fall to 29

A suspected case of meningitis was confirmed at another university, while the outbreak in Kent was reported to be unwelcome.

There was panic across the country last week after two people died from meningitis B (menB) in Kent.

The outbreak, which started at the University of Kent, was reported to the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) on 13 March, and public warnings were issued and vaccines became available two days later.

The number of confirmed cases in Kent has fallen from 23 to 20 and the number of suspected cases under investigation has also fallen from 11 to nine; This means the total number of cases dropped from 34 to 29 on Saturday.

Of the 20 confirmed cases, 19 are meningitis B, and all of the cases have required hospitalization.

Now, St John Rigby College in Orrell has issued a statement to parents and carers about a ‘suspected case of meningococcus’ affecting one of its students.

St John Rigby College, which published a letter to parents on Friday night, said it had acted quickly and students were able to return to classes this week.

The college said: ‘We have been informed by the United Kingdom Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) that a student attending this university has recently been reported as a suspected case of meningococcus. We understand this would be concerning, especially given the ongoing situation in Kent.

‘We would like to reassure you that we acted quickly and that there is only one suspected case at the university.

‘Health agencies have completed contact tracing and there is no known link to the situation in Kent.

Students queue for the meningitis B vaccine at the University of Kent in Canterbury on Thursday

Juliette Kenny, 18, died surrounded by her family on Saturday after falling victim to meningitis.

‘Roughly one case of meningitis is reported every day across the UK.

‘Health professionals are managing the local situation as we have done with other cases of meningitis in Wigan.

‘All close contacts of this case have already been identified and antibiotics have been recommended as a precaution.

‘No one who has not yet been identified and contacted needs antibiotics.

‘The risk to students is very low at this time.

‘No one needs to stay away from university or continue their normal activities.’

Dozens of eligible people, including students, lined up again around the county for the MenB vaccine or antibiotics.

However, numbers in queues have reduced significantly since the rollout began on Wednesday, and as of 10am on Sunday there were no queues outside the previously busy University of Kent Canterbury campus vaccination site.

More than 8,000 meningitis B vaccines have been distributed since the outbreak in Kent.

UKHSA said it expects more cases to be downgraded in the coming days once further laboratory assessments are completed.

UKHSA infectious diseases advisor Dr. Sherine Thomas said: ‘We continue to be alert to new cases and are working closely with NHS England and local authorities across the country to ensure that any new cases identified are responded to as quickly as possible.

‘It is reassuring to see so many eligible young people coming forward for antibiotics and vaccines and we would like to thank everyone who has joined this effort so far.

‘Although the risk to the wider population remains low, it is really important that people know the symptoms of invasive meningococcal disease and seek immediate medical attention if they or anyone they know develops these symptoms.

‘UKHSA continues to work with its partners to identify contacts and provide the necessary treatment.’

Kent County Council’s director of public health, Dr. Anjan Ghosh warned on Friday that ‘tiny, occasional clusters’ could emerge in other parts of the UK as students moving away from Kent ‘incubate’ the virus.

However, he said these could be ‘controlled’ and emphasized that the risk of infection among individuals was low.

Students receive vaccinations and antibiotics from medical staff at the University of Kent on Thursday

Two people died – 18-year-old Juliette Kenny, a sixth pupil at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham, and a 21-year-old unnamed University of Kent student – and the other victims were taken to hospital.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Kent students queued for hours on Friday for their vaccine jab as the government rushed to stop the spread of infection.

The UKHSA said its laboratories had completed the first genetic analysis of the strain, which confirmed that the Bexsero vaccine offered in Kent ‘should provide protection’.

More specifically, it was stated that this strain ‘belongs to a group of bacteria known as group B meningococci, with sequence type 485 belonging to the larger clonal complex ST-41/44’ and that similar strains have been circulating in the UK for approximately five years.

This week Juliette’s father, Michael Kenny, said the devastation his family had suffered was “immeasurable” and called for better protection for young people. Juliette died last Saturday, a day after she showed the first symptoms, which included vomiting and discoloration of her cheeks.

Mr Kenny said he was ‘fit, healthy and strong’ before his death and had completed the practical assessment for his PE A level on Thursday, March 12.

He described Juliette as having a ‘beautifully positive energy’, adding that ‘no family should experience this pain and tragedy’ and that ‘this can be avoided’.

Mr Kenny also said he wanted his daughter’s legacy to be one of ‘lasting change’, saying: ‘We are incredibly proud to be the parents of two wonderful daughters.

‘Juliette is a force in this world. She spread fun, love and happiness to those around her with her beautiful positive energy and continues to do so. The devastation that losing him has caused us, his family and his friends is immeasurable.

‘Sharing stories of the empathy, warmth and fun he created helps his family and friends during this time. His energy continues to help those who love him find a way. The disease took him from us too quickly.’

Mr Kenny said he first became aware his daughter was ill in the early hours of Friday, March 13, when she vomited, but had no other symptoms at the time.

Mr Kenny said: ‘He was taken to our local emergency department on Friday morning after he noticed discoloration on his cheeks.’ ‘He was given antibiotics and sent to A&E by ambulance.

‘Juliette fought bravely for hours but despite fighting alongside NHS hospital staff, meningitis took her from us less than 12 hours later.

‘We were finally with him and the last voices he heard were the voices of those who loved him telling him how much he was loved and valued.’

A photograph of the Kenny family published by the Meningitis Research Foundation with (left to right) Juliette, Michael, Rebecca and Florence. Juliette Kenny died of meningitis last Saturday

Mr Kenny and his family, along with the Meningitis Research Foundation, are calling on the UK to take urgent action to improve access to the menB vaccine for young people and teenagers.

‘No family should experience this pain and tragedy,’ he said. ‘This can be prevented. There are young people who are struggling with this right now, and there are still young people who are at risk.

‘As parents, we knew our children would change the world and be a force for good. Work has begun to protect young people. There needs to be more.

‘Juliette’s impact on this world must be a lasting change. ‘Now is the time to ensure families are protected from the impact of meningitis B.’

Vinny Smith, chief executive of the Meningitis Research Foundation, said in 2015 that the charity’s calls for it to be ‘routinely available’ on the NHS for all age groups at risk were ‘not taken forward’ because it was ‘judged not to be cost-effective’.

The MenB vaccine began being administered to babies on the NHS in 2015; This means that the majority of young people born before that date are not protected against it unless they have had the vaccine specifically.

The Kenny family were unaware that the vaccine was not routinely available for teenagers and young adults on the NHS and that they would have to pay privately to get it.

Mr Smith called on the Government to ‘make decisions now to save lives’ and highlighted the ‘lifelong impact’ of menB, including disability caused by the microbe.

He said: ‘When we suggested that the MenB vaccine would be made routinely available on the NHS for all at-risk age groups in 2015, wider protection for teenagers and young adults was not put forward (this was judged not to be cost-effective based on the criteria used at the time).

‘Our concern then and now is that this does not fully reflect the impact of menB or the full protection value that a vaccine brings.

‘This did not take into account the severity of meningitis, its lifelong impact, or the trauma and bereavement experienced by families.

‘People up and down the country will see this impact this week; ‘We believe the UK Government can now decide to save lives and limit lifelong disability caused by meningitis, protecting people for future generations.’

Mr Smith also told BBC Breakfast that the Kenny family had asked him to express ‘how clear’ they felt about ensuring everyone was protected from meningitis, adding: ‘There is confusion out there, and quite understandably so.’

Claiming that people at the age where they are most at risk against men are not protected, ‘We must take this risk as much as we can.’