Kent Meningitis Outbreak: Key Questions Answered

What has caused nan outbreak?

Meningitis is simply a superior information successful which nan membranes surrounding nan encephalon and spinal cord are infected pinch germs aliases a microorganism and go inflamed. It tin travel connected abruptly – and beryllium fatal.

The existent outbreak appears to impact “invasive meningococcal disease” – this is caused by meningococcal germs that person caused meningitis arsenic good arsenic septicaemia – aliases humor poisoning.

What are nan symptoms?

Early symptoms tin see a abrupt onset of fever, a stiff cervix and a rash that does not slice erstwhile a solid is rolled complete it. They tin besides see a terrible headache, aversion to agleam lights, vomiting and diarrhoea, seizures, associated and musculus pain, disorder and utmost sleepiness.

However, arsenic nan UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) points out, these symptoms whitethorn not ever beryllium present.

Viral meningitis tin get amended connected its own, but bacterial meningitis is much superior – astir 1 successful 10 cases are fatal – and often needs infirmary care, pinch treatments including antibiotics, fluids and oxygen.

While astir group make a afloat betterment from meningitis if treated promptly, nan bacterial shape of nan illness tin consequence successful semipermanent complications specified arsenic problems pinch proceeding aliases vision, epilepsy, difficulties pinch memory, attraction and equilibrium and, successful immoderate cases, whitethorn require nan amputation of limbs.

Can it beryllium prevented?

There are regular vaccinations to thief protect against viral and bacterial meningitis.

As nan NHS notes, nan MenB vaccine, 6-in-1 vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine and MMRV vaccine are offered to babies aliases young children, though UKHSA has pointed retired nan MenB vaccine does not protect against each strains of nan MenB bacteria.

In addition, nan MenACWY vaccine, which covers 4 different meningococcal groups, is offered to teenagers successful schoolhouse years 9 and 10, and tin beryllium fixed until nan property of 25.

“Uptake of nan ACWY vaccine among adolescents is astir 73%, truthful location are a batch of unvaccinated students fixed nan size of nan student cohort,” said Prof Andrew Preston of nan University of Bath.

People who person missed these vaccines tin interaction their GP to cheque which vaccines they are eligible for and put catch-up vaccinations.

However, these vaccines do not protect against each of nan imaginable viruses aliases strains of germs that tin origin meningitis.

“Whether vaccination rates played a domiciled successful this outbreak will dangle connected which strain is involved, which hasn’t yet been confirmed. Until that accusation is available, it would beryllium premature to property nan outbreak to vaccine uptake,” said Dr Zina Alfahl of nan University of Galway.

Who is typically affected?

Anyone tin get meningitis and it tin harvest up successful unconnected individuals, but young group – specified arsenic those going to assemblage aliases assemblage – thin to beryllium much astatine risk. As nan UKHSA notes, that’s because they operation pinch tons of different young group who whitethorn beryllium carrying nan germs that origin meningitis.

“The germs are often carried harmlessly successful nan throat, particularly among teenagers and young adults,” Alfahl.

These bacteria, which often colonise nan chemoreceptor and pharynx without causing disease, tin beryllium passed connected done sneezing, coughing and kissing.

“University environments – halls of residence, parties, and ample societal networks – create conditions wherever nan germs tin dispersed much easily. That’s why vaccination programmes and accelerated public-health responses often attraction connected students and young adults erstwhile clusters occur,” said Alfahl.

According to nan BBC, nan outbreak is thought to beryllium linked to a societal arena successful Canterbury, which was attended by immoderate of those who later became ill.

Trish Mannes, UKHSA location lawman head for nan south-east, added that students were peculiarly astatine consequence of missing early symptoms of nan illness because they could lucifer a bad cold, flu aliases a hangover.

“That’s why it’s captious that, if a friend goes to furniture unwell, you cheque connected them regularly and don’t hesitate to activity aesculapian thief by contacting their GP aliases calling NHS 111 if they person these symptoms aliases you’re concerned astir them. This could prevention their life,” she said.

What is being done to negociate nan situation?

Public wellness teams person already swung into action, pinch nan UKHSA noting its specialists are interviewing affected individuals and their families to thief place each adjacent contacts and put antibiotics to limit spread.

“Students and unit will understandably beryllium emotion worried astir nan consequence of further cases. However, we would for illustration to reassure them that adjacent contacts of cases person been fixed antibiotics arsenic a precautionary measure,” said Mannes.

“Advice and support is being offered to nan wider student community, and to section hospitals and NHS 111, and we’re monitoring nan business closely.”

UKHSA adds that anyone who thinks they, aliases personification they attraction for, could person meningitis, septicaemia aliases sepsis should telephone 999 aliases spell to their nearest A&E.