What is meningitis B? Symptoms, vaccine and what to avoid as NHS staff issued urgent warning

Health chiefs are investigating 27 cases of meningitis linked to the outbreak in Kent, down from 20 previously, following an “explosive” outbreak that left two people dead.

A deadly meningitis B outbreak has spread to a second Kent university. Leaders at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) say a case of meningococcal disease has been found there affecting a student and linked to the first cluster associated with Club Chemistry.

A student diagnosed with the disease in London has also been confirmed to be “directly linked” to the same outbreak. Escape Studios, an animation school in North Greenwich, confirmed that the person was hospitalized.

Senior doctors said it was unusual for meningitis cases to spread so quickly, blaming the rise in numbers on a “superspreader” event.

Some of the cases were confirmed to be meningitis B. The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA), which is investigating the outbreak, said the strain seen in other cases would be confirmed “once we have the full results”.

Hundreds of people who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury on March 5, 6 or 7 have been told to come forward for preventative antibiotic treatment as a “precautionary measure”, while a targeted vaccination campaign for students at the University of Kent is being urgently launched.

An urgent public health alert has been issued, with officials urging NHS staff to stay alert for signs and symptoms. People were also warned that university students were particularly susceptible to the deadly infection.

Here are the symptoms of meningitis and what to do if you suspect you have the infection, according to the NHS.

What is meningitis?

Meningitis is an infection of the meninges, the protective membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

Meningitis affects approximately 2.3 million people worldwide each year. It is estimated that one in 10 cases of bacterial meningitis is fatal, according to the NHS.

Although anyone can get meningitis, it is more common in infants, children, adolescents and young adults.

What are the symptoms of meningitis?

Early warning signs of meningitis include high fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and stomach cramps.

As the disease develops, it can make people sleepy, irritable and confused, as well as cause severe muscle pain, pale, blotchy skin, spots or a rash, stiff neck, aversion to bright lights, convulsions or seizures.

Meningitis Now It urges people not to wait until someone develops a rash and to seek medical attention if someone is sick and showing these symptoms.

What causes meningitis?

Meningitis has many different causes, including viruses, bacteria and fungi. However, in the UK, viruses and bacteria are the most common causes.

Other causes of meningitis include certain medications or brain tumors. Meningitis can also occur after a skull fracture or head and neck surgery, according to Now.

Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis.

What are the different types?

There are five main types that cause the disease in the UK.

MenB is the most common and also the most lethal. At least some cases of meningitis in Kent have been confirmed as meningitis B, health officials said.

Other types include MenA, MenC, MenW, and MenY, which are also caused by bacteria.

What is meningitis B?

Meningitis B is a serious bacterial infection caused by the group B bacteria Neisseria meningitidis.

Meningitis, an infection of the brain and spinal cord, can lead to serious illness, including blood poisoning and sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to infection.

MenB, the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK, is responsible for around nine in 10 meningococcal infections in the country, according to Public Health Wales.

It is one of the most aggressive and dangerous forms of meningitis and causes the majority of meningococcal cases and deaths in the UK.

How is meningitis spread?

Infections that cause meningitis can be spread through coughing, sneezing or kissing.

Although less common, it is usually caught in people who carry the virus or bacteria in their nose or throat or have meningitis.

How serious is meningitis?

If not treated quickly, it can lead to sepsis, brain or nerve damage, hearing loss, and even death.

Some people with bacterial meningitis may experience hearing or vision loss, memory problems, seizures, or amputation even after treatment.

Can meningitis be treated?

People with viral meningitis usually recover on their own.

Most people with bacterial meningitis who are treated quickly also recover completely. However, he usually needs to be treated in hospital for at least a week.

Treatments include antibiotics and the administration of fluids directly into a vein or oxygen through a face mask.

Is there a vaccine for meningitis?

Vaccines to prevent some types of meningitis are available as part of the UK routine vaccination programme.

Vaccines include menB, six-in-one, pneumococcal and MMRV vaccines for infants and children, while MenACWY vaccines are offered to teenagers, sixth graders and new college students.

The MenB vaccine is now offered to babies at two, three and 12 months of age.

Men W disease was historically a rare disease in the UK, but from 2009 cases of Men W began to increase each year. As of autumn 2015, the MenC vaccine for school children has been replaced by the MenACWY vaccine and is offered from around the age of 14.

Any young person who misses this vaccine at school will continue to have the right to receive this vaccine until the age of 25. This is especially important for new college entrants, who are at increased risk of contracting meningococcal disease.

The government should consider a “catch-up” vaccination campaign for young people, a former health minister has said.

Speaking about the latest outbreak on Tuesday, Conservative MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, Helen Whately, told Times Radio: “One of the things the government (and) the UKHSA needs to look at is whether there is a greater risk now with this outbreak and whether there will be some sort of vaccine catch-up for this group in the future.”

What should you do if you think you have meningitis?

The NHS recommends people call 999 for an ambulance or go to their nearest A&E. People are advised to trust their instincts, as someone with meningitis or sepsis can deteriorate very quickly.