Meningitis Kent outbreak latest: Students queue for antibiotics after two die and 13 cases reported

My friend Antonia was 18 when she died overnight from bacterial meningitis during her first semester at Oxford University in October 2009. Seventeen years later, there is still not enough effort being made to inform students about the symptoms and dangers of the disease.

Two people, including a University of Kent student, have died and more than a dozen young people from the Canterbury region have been hospitalized following a meningitis outbreak in Kent this weekend.

Although many people are aware that meningitis mainly affects infants and children, college students are the second group most at risk for the disease. One in four people aged 15-19 will carry meningococcal bacteria in the back of their throat; This rate represents one tenth of the total population in the United Kingdom.

The local MP in Kent said he had spoken to the health minister about the ongoing meningitis outbreak in his constituency.

Helen Whately, Conservative MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, said: “I have been in contact with the health secretary and expect to hear from the UKHSA this morning.

“I am trying to get information on what is being done locally to trace contacts and identify which pupils and schoolchildren are at risk.

“I also want schools to be briefed on what steps they need to take and parents what they need to do.”

Some bacteria that cause meningitis can also cause septicemia. According to Meningitis Now, people with septicemia may develop a rash consisting of small red or “pinprick” marks that may develop into larger red or purple areas that resemble bruises.

A glass can be used to check if the redness disappears under pressure. To do this, press a transparent cup firmly against the skin; If the rash does not go away, this is a warning sign that immediate medical attention is needed.

However, experts warn people not to wait until a person develops a rash and to seek medical help if the person is sick and shows these symptoms.

The National Union of Students was “saddened” to hear news of those affected by the Kent meningitis outbreak, calling for greater awareness of the disease.

Amira Campbell, President of the National Union of Students, said: “We are sorry to hear of deaths, hospitalizations and young people unwell.

“Our thoughts are with their families, friends and everyone at the University of Kent.

“We encourage everyone concerned to follow the advice shared by healthcare professionals.

“There is not enough awareness about meningitis, especially when young people are going to university.

“While we all await the inevitable next-gen flu, deadly viral strains are also on the loose that students need to be protected from and aware of.”

Lecturer in the Department of Bacteriology at the University of Galway, Dr. Zina Alfahl explained that the overall risk to the public in Kent or across the UK remains very low.

But he emphasized that teenagers and young adults are at higher risk.

“One reason for this is that many people in this age group carry the bacteria in their nose or throat without showing symptoms, and it spreads through close contact such as coughing, kissing or sharing drinks,” he said.

“University environments—dorms, parties, and large social networks—create conditions in which bacteria can spread more easily. That’s why vaccination programs and rapid public health interventions often focus on students and young adults when clusters occur.”

Early warning signs of meningitis include:

• high temperature
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• muscle pain
• stomach cramps

As the condition develops, it can cause:

• Numbness
• confusion, confusion
• severe muscle pain
• Pale patchy skin, spots, or rash
• stiff neck
• dislike of bright lights
• Convulsions or seizures

An epidemiologist has reassured that the overall risk to people in the Kent area is low, but young people and students are at higher risk.

Prof Keith Neal, Emeritus Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, University of Nottingham, said: “The risk for urban residents is low, but this is a community outbreak so there is a small risk; I suspect older teenagers and student groups. Under-5s are at risk of becoming seriously ill from meningitis, but teenagers and students are at higher risk due to social mixing.”

“Identifying the strain will help us tell which vaccine might be useful; a PCR test will be able to do this,” he added.

The MenACWY vaccine is offered to teenagers, sixth graders, and new college students to protect against various forms of meningitis.

But experts have warned that almost a third of students have not been vaccinated.

“Uptake of the ACWY vaccine among teenagers is around 73 per cent, so given the size of the student body there are a large number of unvaccinated students,” said Andrew Preston, Professor of Microbial Pathogenicity at the University of Bath.

He explained that an outbreak of this size and speed was “very unusual and of great concern.”

“It is important to characterize the cause of the outbreak. A sudden change in the disease pattern may indicate a new strain with different behavior. It will be important to determine the vaccination status of those affected,” he added.

The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) said it was notified of 13 cases with signs and symptoms of meningitis in the Canterbury region of Kent from Friday to Sunday.

Some students at the University of Kent have been given antibiotics, while others are in hospital.

However, the specific type of meningitis has not yet been determined.

Lecturer in the Department of Bacteriology at the University of Galway, Dr. Zina Alfahl explained that the strain must be identified by laboratory testing of patient samples, which could be blood or cerebrospinal fluid.

He said: “Specialist reference laboratories can determine the serogroup of the bacterium and sequence its genome. This information is extremely useful because it tells public health teams whether cases are linked, which strain is circulating and whether targeted vaccination or other interventions could help stop further spread.”

A local nightclub said it was contacted by authorities to track down people who may have been affected by the meningitis outbreak.

Louise Jones-Roberts, owner of Club Chemistry in Canterbury, said the venue had been contacted by the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) in the hope of tracing everyone affected.

“We were told that someone diagnosed with meningitis came to our club over the weekend,” he said.

“They asked us if we had any way of detecting who had broken in.

“We have an ID scanner, but it’s more of a security measure… It takes photos of some driver’s licenses, ID cards, etc.

“We have event tickets so we can track down ticket holders, but most people pay at the door.”

He said his thoughts are with the families of those affected by the meningitis outbreak.

“I was devastated,” he said. “I can’t even imagine what the families are going through.

“Our thoughts are with the families. Meningitis affects healthy young people and it is devastating.

“We will remain closed until we receive further advice from the UKHSA.”