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Ishita Roy

Meningitis Outbreak From Kent University Is Now A National Incident, Parents Fighting For Jabs Amid Low Stock

A <span>meningitis outbreak</span> in Kent University is now treated as a national incident, after two people have died, one of them being the student of the university. Students have been urged to get vaccines and take antibiotics as health officials are dealing with the "unprecedented" and "explosive" outbreak. 

As per the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), 15 cases have been reported and all of them have lead to hospital admission. Cases are also expected to rise due to the incubation period of infection to when the symptoms start to appear. The incubation period is from two to 14 days. 

A report by Sky News notes that around 5,000 students in the university halls in Kent will be offered the <span>meningitis</span> B or (menB) vaccine in the coming days. Four schools across the county have also confirmed cases with hundreds of people being offered antibiotics.

Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/meningitis-outbreak-university-of-kent-student-among-two-who-died-of-the-invasive-disease-article-153843432" data-type="tilCustomLink">Meningitis Outbreak: University of Kent Student Among Two Who Died of the ‘Invasive’ Disease</a> 

<h2>Quickest-growing Meningitis Outbreak</h2>

As per experts, many of whom are affected had attended Club Chemistry in Cantebury between 5 to 7 March. UKHSA chief executive Susan Hopkins said the outbreak "looks like a super-spreader" event with "ongoing spread" through universities' halls of residence. She added: "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."

She further said that in her 35 years working in medicine, healthcare, and hospitals, "This is the most cases I've ever seen in a single weekend with this type of infection". She added: "It is the explosive nature that is unprecedented here - the number of cases in such a short space of time." She also remarked that this was the "quickest-growing outbreak" she has ever seen in her career.

According to The Guardian report, parents are contacting pharmacies in an "increasingly desperate" effort to get their children vaccinated against meningitis after the outbreak in the university was reported. The surge in vaccination demand has led to the stocks running so low that many pharmacies are unable to get hold of supplies from wholesalers. 

A snap poll recorded that almost nine out of 10 pharmacies, which makes it 87 per cent, reported a dramatic rise in requests from concerned parents to get a child or children vaccinated, as per the National Pharmacy Association (NPA).

Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/kent-uni-meningitis-outbreak-caused-by-less-targeted-strain-b-article-153854079" data-type="tilCustomLink">Kent Uni Meningitis Outbreak Caused By Less-Targeted Strain B</a> 

Parents were paying £200 or more per child for a vaccine that protects against meningitis B, the strain of meningococcal bacteria involved in the outbreak. For example, Boots is charging £220 for the two jabs needed.

A pharmacy owner in Berkshire told The Guardian, “I have received about 30 or 40 calls in two hours from people wanting to book their entire families for vaccinations. They are worried. They are getting agitated.”

NPA chair, Olivier Picard told The Guardian that the demand was "far exceeding supply", which has forced pharmacies to "manage constrained levels of supply" and tell anxious parents that they cannot immunize their children.

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A meningitis outbreak in Kent University is now treated as a national incident, after two people have died, one of them being the student of the university. Students have been urged to get vaccines and take antibiotics as health officials are dealing with the "unprecedented" and "explosive" outbreak. As per the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), 15 cases have been reported and all of them have lead to hospital admission. Cases are also expected to rise due to the incubation period of infection to when the symptoms start to appear. The incubation period is from two to 14 days. A report by Sky News notes that around 5,000 students in the university halls in Kent will be offered the meningitis B or (menB) vaccine in the coming days. Four schools across the county have also confirmed cases with hundreds of people being offered antibiotics.Read: Meningitis Outbreak: University of Kent Student Among Two Who Died of the ‘Invasive’ Disease Quickest-growing Meningitis OutbreakAs per experts, many of whom are affected had attended Club Chemistry in Cantebury between 5 to 7 March. UKHSA chief executive Susan Hopkins said the outbreak "looks like a super-spreader" event with "ongoing spread" through universities' halls of residence. She added: "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."She further said that in her 35 years working in medicine, healthcare, and hospitals, "This is the most cases I've ever seen in a single weekend with this type of infection". She added: "It is the explosive nature that is unprecedented here - the number of cases in such a short space of time." She also remarked that this was the "quickest-growing outbreak" she has ever seen in her career.Fighting For JabsAccording to The Guardian report, parents are contacting pharmacies in an "increasingly desperate" effort to get their children vaccinated against meningitis after the outbreak in the university was reported. The surge in vaccination demand has led to the stocks running so low that many pharmacies are unable to get hold of supplies from wholesalers. A snap poll recorded that almost nine out of 10 pharmacies, which makes it 87 per cent, reported a dramatic rise in requests from concerned parents to get a child or children vaccinated, as per the National Pharmacy Association (NPA).Read: Kent Uni Meningitis Outbreak Caused By Less-Targeted Strain B Parents were paying £200 or more per child for a vaccine that protects against meningitis B, the strain of meningococcal bacteria involved in the outbreak. For example, Boots is charging £220 for the two jabs needed.A pharmacy owner in Berkshire told The Guardian, “I have received about 30 or 40 calls in two hours from people wanting to book their entire families for vaccinations. They are worried. They are getting agitated.”NPA chair, Olivier Picard told The Guardian that the demand was "far exceeding supply", which has forced pharmacies to "manage constrained levels of supply" and tell anxious parents that they cannot immunize their children.

meningitis outbreak from kent university is now a national incident, parents fighting for jabs amid low stock

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Meningitis Outbreak From Kent University Is Now A National Incident, Parents Fighting For Jabs Amid Low Stock

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