Increase in Meningitis Cases in Kent
The number of meningitis cases under investigation by health authorities in Kent has increased to 20, up from 15 previously reported. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that as of 5pm on Tuesday, 20 cases had been reported.
Among these, nine cases have been laboratory-confirmed, while 11 remain under investigation. Of the confirmed cases, six have been identified as meningitis B (MenB) strain.
A UKHSA statement noted:
“All those affected who are currently linked to the outbreak are young adults. UKHSA is aware of a baby with confirmed meningococcal group B infection who is not currently linked to the outbreak but UKHSA will continue to investigate this case.”
Response and Treatment Measures
Trish Mannes, UKHSA regional deputy director for the south-east, stated that approximately 2,500 doses of antibiotics have been administered across various sites in Kent. She emphasized the importance of close contacts coming forward for treatment.
“This includes those offered at the and anyone who visited Club Chemistry between March 5-7. This is the main intervention that will help protect people and halt the spread of the outbreak.”
She added that, as a precautionary measure, a targeted MenB vaccination programme is being initiated in collaboration with the NHS. Initially, this will be offered to 5,000 University of Kent students residing at the Canterbury campus, with the possibility of extension based on ongoing review.
“If you think you may have symptoms of meningitis, don’t hesitate to seek medical help by contacting your GP or calling NHS 111. Seeking early treatment can save lives.”
Vaccine Availability Concerns
Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, informed BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that there is currently no stock of MenB vaccines available for private purchase.
“Pharmacies were used to ‘bridging the gap between what the NHS offers and what patients want’, but unfortunately, that supply has run out, and most of our distributors, wholesalers have no stock. And whilst we’re hearing that there may be some stock in the system, it is taking its time to come into our fridges. There’s no date of resupply.”
Nature of the Outbreak
Experts regard this outbreak as unprecedented due to the rapid increase in cases over a short period.
UKHSA chief executive Susan Hopkins commented:
“This looks like a super-spreader event, with ongoing spread within the halls of residence in the universities. There will have been some parties particularly around this, so there will have been lots of social mixing.
“I can’t yet say where the initial infection came from, how it’s got into this cohort, and why it’s created such an explosive amount of infections. I can say that in my 35 years working in medicine, in healthcare and hospitals, this is the most cases I’ve seen in a single weekend with this type of infection.
“It’s the explosive nature that is unprecedented here – the number of cases in such a short space of time. NHS were initially managing it as a major incident in the region but they have now increased that overlay to having a national-level oversight as well.”
England’s deputy chief medical officer, Dr Thomas Waite, added:
“This is by far the quickest-growing outbreak I’ve ever seen in my career, and I think probably any of us have seen, of meningitis for a very long time.
“Whilst it remains an outbreak that is having its consequences in Kent, it is obviously of national significance.”
Vaccination Programme and Further Measures
Approximately 5,000 students residing in university halls in Kent will be offered the MenB vaccine in the coming days. The objective is to prevent further cases in the following weeks if individuals are carrying the infection.
Four schools across Kent have confirmed cases, and hundreds of people are being offered antibiotics as an immediate treatment.
On Tuesday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting addressed the situation, noting that most students would not have been vaccinated against MenB and that vaccinations would commence shortly. He told MPs:
“This is an unprecedented outbreak. It is also a rapidly developing situation.”
He explained that the MenB vaccine has been available on the NHS since 2015 as part of routine childhood immunisations but acknowledged that most students would not have received it.
“Given the severity of the situation, I can confirm to the House that we will begin a targeted vaccination programme for students living in halls of residence at the University of Kent in Canterbury, which will begin in the coming days.”
The vaccination programme may be expanded if other groups are identified as at risk.
