Meningitis outbreak spreads to second university in Kent after vaccine supplies dwindle
Meningitis outbreak spreads to second university in Kent after vaccine supplies dwindle
A second meningitis case has emerged at a university in Kent following the designation of the outbreak as a ‘super-spreader’ event. Health officials are working to control the meningitis outbreak in Canterbury, Kent, where thousands of students at the University of Kent have received preventative antibiotics to prevent further spread. The outbreak has resulted in two fatalities.
The second university affected, Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), has reported a student who has fallen ill. Vice-chancellor Rama Thirunamachandran stated,
‘The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed a single meningococcal disease case involving a CCCU student. We’ve provided direct support to the affected individual, and this case is connected to the initial cluster linked to Club Chemistry.’
Pharmacies are in an ‘impossible situation’ as private supplies for the Men B vaccine have dwindled, with most distributors and wholesalers now out of stock. Olivier Picard, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that while some stock may exist in the system, it’s taking time to reach their fridges. No resupply date has been announced.
The vaccination service’s online booking system is currently down, displaying a message:
‘We’ll be back shortly. Demand for the Meningitis B Vaccination Service is high, and we’re experiencing technical issues. We’re working to restore it as quickly as possible.’
The University of Kent has announced that all students residing on the Canterbury campus will be offered meningitis B vaccines starting today. Around 5,000 students in Kent’s university accommodations will receive the jab over the next few days. Schools in the region are also providing the vaccine following four confirmed cases linked to them.
The outbreak has been classified as a national incident, with officials anticipating an increase in cases as symptoms may take between two to 14 days to manifest. Experts are calling this outbreak unprecedented, noting the unusually high number of cases in a short period.
UKHSA chief executive Susan Hopkins remarked:
‘This outbreak resembles a super-spreader event, with the infection spreading rapidly within university residences. There have been numerous social gatherings around this time, leading to significant mixing. I can’t yet determine the origin of the initial infection, how it reached this group, or why it’s caused such a rapid spread. In my 35 years in healthcare, this is the most cases I’ve seen in a single weekend for this type of infection. The explosive rate of new cases is unprecedented.’
GPs across the UK have been directed to prescribe antibiotics to anyone who attended Club Chemistry events in Canterbury between March 5-7, according to the UKHSA. These cases are connected to the nightclub, which hosted a fresher’s event attended by sixth formers.
One individual from Kent was traced to London, where they visited a hospital with no local contacts. A baby girl, also hospitalized with the same meningitis strain, is facing surgery, though her case is not currently connected to the Kent outbreak.
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