Recent reports of two deaths linked to Meningitis B outbreak UK have caused significant concerns among students.
What has happened?
Chemistry nightclub in Kent, Cantebury is thought to be the place where the outbreak started.
The first case related to the night club was confirmed on 13th March in the UK and on 14th March in France. Two deaths were then confirmed by 15th of March.
The UK Health Security Agency was notified on 13th March and took measures to limit the spread of the disease and track down all the people who were in contact with the infected patients to offer them precautionary antibiotics and vaccination.
According to the recent update, there were no new cases on 22nd March and UKHSA says risk to the general population is low.
The approximate timeline of the events is presented below
What is Meningitis B?
Meningitis B is a serious illness caused by group B strains of the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.
It poses a significant risk due to its rapid onset and high mortality rate if there is no urgent treatment.
It needs the human body to survive and roughly 5-10% of the general population carry one of the strains in the back of the throat as silent carriers with no symptoms.
Students and teenagers are at particularly high risk due to their close-contact lifestyles and lower vaccination coverage.
The MenB vaccine was only introduced for children born after 2015, so those born before this would need to pay for private vaccination, which currently costs over £200.
Is it always life threatening?
To most people, the bacteria remain harmless in the throat.
However, in rare cases they can enter the bloodstream and can reach the brain, causing meningitis – inflammation of the lining of the brain or sepsis.
It is not as contagious as COVID-19 and requires prolonged or close contact with the infected person or the silent carrier. It is primarily transmitted through sharing saliva, for example, when sharing food, vapes, utensils or kissing.
What are the symptoms?
As per the UKHSA, symptoms to look out for include:
- A rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass
- Sudden onset of high fever
- Severe and worsening headache
- Stiff neck
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Joint and muscle pain
- Dislike of bright lights
- Very cold hands and feet
- Seizures
- Confusion or delirium
- Extreme sleepiness or difficulty waking
It is advised to seek urgent medical help if these symptoms are developed.
Is there any treatment?
Antibiotics are supposed to be effective against MenB when given early and are now offered to close contacts of the MenB infected patients linked to the Kent outbreak.
From 2015, the MenB vaccine has been given to children when they reach 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 1 year old.
The MenACWY vaccine is given to teenagers and helps protect against 4 other types of bacteria linked to meningitis.
Should we be concerned in Manchester?
The University of Manchester posted two articles regarding the MenB outbreak in Kent, saying that there is “no indication of increased risk to our local population”.
UKHSA maintains that “the risk of infection to the wider population remains low”
Overall, basic safety precautions are always a good thing to follow – always clean hands before eating, avoid sharing food, utensils etc with other people and undergo all the suggested vaccination programmes. If unsure about your symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.
What support is available?
You can access support now via these websites:
- Meningitis – know the symptoms | StaffNet | The University of Manchester
- Meningitis and septicaemia (information for students in University Residences)
- UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) blog: What is meningitis?
- The Meningitis Research Foundation, www.meningitis.org, 0808 800 3344 (24 hours)
- Meningitis Now, www.meningitisnow.org, 0808 80 10 388 (9am – 8pm)
