Health and Me

Rachel V Thomas

UK Meningitis Outbreak: Cases Rise To 20; 9-month-old Baby Battles For Life In Intensive Care

The “unprecedented” wave of meningitis outbreak in the UK's Kent, which claimed two lives, has risen to 20 cases, according to health officials.

While almost all cases have been linked to those who visited the Club Chemistry nightclub in Canterbury between March 5 and 7, a 9-month-old baby from Folkestone is reportedly battling for life in the intensive care unit.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), in a statement, noted that it is aware of a baby with confirmed Meningococcal group B infection who is not currently linked to the outbreak. The agency said it will continue to investigate the case.

The baby Nala-Rose Fletcher, from Folkestone, is currently in intensive care at Evelina London Children’s Hospital. According to doctors, she will be permanently affected by the infection, the Independent.co.uk reported.

Meanwhile, another university in the city confirmed a case of meningitis on Wednesday. The student at Canterbury Christ Church is believed to be a man who was at the nightclub and part of the 20 known cases.

“We have reached out to support the individual directly, and student wellbeing and support are reaching out and making themselves available to support fellow students more widely,” Canterbury Christ Church University said in a statement.

“We have followed UKHSA advice and informed the limited number of close contacts of the individual that they should receive precautionary antibiotics, if they have not done so already,” it added.

<h2>The Meningitis Outbreak May Have Contained</h2>

The UK health officials believe that the “unprecedented” wave of meningitis outbreak may have been “contained” as no new cluster of cases has been reported.

Health officials from the NHS, the UKHSA, and county council public health staff tackling the outbreak noted that the 20 people diagnosed with the illness have not infected anyone outside the area, the Guardian reported.

“We may have contained it. There are no cases popping up elsewhere that we know of – no cases that we know of outside the cluster – or not yet anyway,” said an official involved in the multi-agency response. 

Notably, the officials have identified the outbreaks linked to a known strain of <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/kent-uni-meningitis-outbreak-caused-by-less-targeted-strain-b-article-153854079" data-type="tilCustomLink">meningitis B</a>, the report said. Six of the nine confirmed cases are group B (MenB), the agency added.

The UKHSA has been prompt in action since the outbreak first began in Kent.

“As of 5 pm on 17 March, 9 laboratory cases are confirmed, and 11 notifications remain under investigation, bringing the total to 20. Six of the confirmed cases are confirmed to be group B meningococcal disease,” the agency said.

A 21-year-old student at the University of Kent and a teenage student at a school in the town of Faversham have died in the outbreak.

The agency has also rolled out the MenB vaccine to 5,000 students living in the University of Kent halls of residence in Canterbury.

In addition, over 2,500 doses of antibiotics -- the most effective treatment to limit the spread of invasive meningococcal disease -- has been given to students, close contacts, and others, including some of those who attended Club Chemistry between March 5 and 7.

Further, calling the illness in the Kent outbreak “severe, with rapid deterioration”, the UKHSA has issued an urgent alert to all NHS doctors in England. It advised the healthcare workers to to look for meningitis symptoms and to wear personal protective equipment before giving suspected patients antibiotics. 

Caused by meningococcal bacteria, the meningococcal disease leads to inflammation of the lining of the brain also called as meningitis. The condition can also lead to sepsis or blood poisoning. 

As the onset can be sudden, knowing the signs and symptoms and acting quickly is important.

<ul><li>rash </li><li>sudden onset of high fever </li><li>severe and worsening headache </li><li>vomiting and diarrhoea </li><li>joint and muscle pain </li><li>seizures </li></ul>The MenB strain cab spread by close and prolonged contact, including living in the same household and intimate contact such as kissing or sharing drinks or vapes.

Health Conditions A-Z

health

Meningitis Outbreak

Kent Meningitis

Meningococcal disease

meningococcal

kent

UKHSA

uk health security agency

canterbury christ church

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The “unprecedented” wave of meningitis outbreak in the UK's Kent, which claimed two lives, has risen to 20 cases, according to health officials. While almost all cases have been linked to those who visited the Club Chemistry nightclub in Canterbury between March 5 and 7, a 9-month-old baby from Folkestone is reportedly battling for life in the intensive care unit.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), in a statement, noted that it is aware of a baby with confirmed Meningococcal group B infection who is not currently linked to the outbreak. The agency said it will continue to investigate the case. The baby Nala-Rose Fletcher, from Folkestone, is currently in intensive care at Evelina London Children’s Hospital. According to doctors, she will be permanently affected by the infection, the Independent.co.uk reported. Meanwhile, another university in the city confirmed a case of meningitis on Wednesday. The student at Canterbury Christ Church is believed to be a man who was at the nightclub and part of the 20 known cases. “We have reached out to support the individual directly, and student wellbeing and support are reaching out and making themselves available to support fellow students more widely,” Canterbury Christ Church University said in a statement. “We have followed UKHSA advice and informed the limited number of close contacts of the individual that they should receive precautionary antibiotics, if they have not done so already,” it added. The Meningitis Outbreak May Have ContainedThe UK health officials believe that the “unprecedented” wave of meningitis outbreak may have been “contained” as no new cluster of cases has been reported. Health officials from the NHS, the UKHSA, and county council public health staff tackling the outbreak noted that the 20 people diagnosed with the illness have not infected anyone outside the area, the Guardian reported. “We may have contained it. There are no cases popping up elsewhere that we know of – no cases that we know of outside the cluster – or not yet anyway,” said an official involved in the multi-agency response. Notably, the officials have identified the outbreaks linked to a known strain of meningitis B, the report said. Six of the nine confirmed cases are group B (MenB), the agency added. UKHSA In Prompt ActionThe UKHSA has been prompt in action since the outbreak first began in Kent. “As of 5 pm on 17 March, 9 laboratory cases are confirmed, and 11 notifications remain under investigation, bringing the total to 20. Six of the confirmed cases are confirmed to be group B meningococcal disease,” the agency said. A 21-year-old student at the University of Kent and a teenage student at a school in the town of Faversham have died in the outbreak. The agency has also rolled out the MenB vaccine to 5,000 students living in the University of Kent halls of residence in Canterbury.In addition, over 2,500 doses of antibiotics -- the most effective treatment to limit the spread of invasive meningococcal disease -- has been given to students, close contacts, and others, including some of those who attended Club Chemistry between March 5 and 7. Further, calling the illness in the Kent outbreak “severe, with rapid deterioration”, the UKHSA has issued an urgent alert to all NHS doctors in England. It advised the healthcare workers to to look for meningitis symptoms and to wear personal protective equipment before giving suspected patients antibiotics. What is Meningococcal disease? Caused by meningococcal bacteria, the meningococcal disease leads to inflammation of the lining of the brain also called as meningitis. The condition can also lead to sepsis or blood poisoning. As the onset can be sudden, knowing the signs and symptoms and acting quickly is important.Common symptoms include: rash  sudden onset of high fever severe and worsening headache vomiting and diarrhoea joint and muscle pain seizures The MenB strain cab spread by close and prolonged contact, including living in the same household and intimate contact such as kissing or sharing drinks or vapes.