The number of cases linked to a meningitis outbreak in Kent, England, has risen to 29, including both confirmed and suspected infections, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced Friday. This represents an increase from the 27 cases previously reported.
As of 12:30pm GMT, the UKHSA has identified 18 confirmed cases and 11 probable cases of meningitis associated with the outbreak in Kent, according to a statement released by the agency. Thirteen of the confirmed cases have been specifically identified as meningitis B.
The outbreak has already resulted in tragedy, with one school pupil and one university student succumbing to the infection. Several other young people have been hospitalized and, in some instances, placed in medically induced comas, according to reports.
UKHSA Chief Scientific Officer Professor Robin May stated that experts are currently investigating whether the meningitis-causing bacteria has develop into more easily transmissible. “It’s certainly very unusual,” he said. “Typically, we see on average in the UK about one case of meningitis a day. This is obviously a much bigger number than that and so there’s something unusual about this outbreak.”
Professor May outlined two primary lines of inquiry. The first focuses on whether specific settings, potentially a “club setting,” have facilitated the spread of the bacteria. He emphasized that there is currently no evidence to support this hypothesis. The second investigation centers on the possibility that the bacteria itself has undergone a change, increasing its transmissibility or its likelihood of causing disease. “Many of us carry menB as a bacteria without any problems in the back of our throats all the time. So it could be that this is a bacteria that’s just more likely to progress to disease,” he explained.
Genome sequencing of the bacterial strain is underway, but Professor May cautioned that the analysis is complex. “The genome for this bacteria is about 100 times bigger than Covid so it’s a lot more complicated,” he said. Results are expected soon, and will focus on identifying any changes in the bacteria that might explain the outbreak’s unusual characteristics.
Responding to questions about the potential for similar outbreaks in the future, Professor May acknowledged the concern. “Well obviously that’s something we’re very conscious of,” he stated. He added that the UKHSA will remain vigilant for the possible re-emergence of the specific strain and will apply lessons learned about the bacteria to improve future prevention efforts. “As with all pathogens, there’s always much more we can learn, and by learning more about how they perform, we hope to develop better ways to prevent them causing disease in the future.”
The UKHSA has expanded the offer of meningitis B vaccination to students in Kent in response to the outbreak, according to a statement released by GOV.UK.
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