Two people have died and nearly 30 cases have been confirmed in a rapidly escalating meningitis outbreak centered around the University of Kent in Canterbury, England, prompting a large-scale public health response.
The latest figures, released Friday, show 18 confirmed cases and a further 11 probable cases, all linked to Kent, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The outbreak has now spread beyond the university, with cases confirmed at Canterbury Christ Church University, four schools in Kent, and an animation and gaming college, Escape Studios, in Greenwich, London.
One of the fatalities was a student at the University of Kent, the university confirmed. The other was a school pupil in a nearby town. Both are believed to be aged between 18 and 21, according to the BBC.
Health officials are currently investigating a potential link to a social event in Canterbury, with specialists interviewing those affected to identify close contacts. The specific strain of meningitis responsible for the outbreak remains unidentified, the UKHSA stated.
In response to the growing crisis, a number of sites have been established to provide eligible individuals with vaccines and antibiotics. The University of Kent’s Sports Centre is offering vaccines from 09:00 to 16:30 on March 20th, 21st, and 22nd, though the university has warned the clinic may close early today “due to demand.” Antibiotics are available at the Senate Building on the University of Kent campus.
Additional locations offering both antibiotics and vaccines include the Vicarage Lane Clinic in Ashford (March 20th, 08:30-19:30; March 21st & 22nd, 09:00-16:30), the Faversham Health Centre (March 20th & 21st, 09:00-17:00), and the Gate Clinic at Kent and Canterbury Hospital (March 20th, 08:30-19:30; March 21st & 22nd, 09:00-16:30). Antibiotics alone are available at the James Williams Healthy Living Centre in Chatham (March 20th & 21st, 08:30-17:30; March 22nd, 10:30-14:30).
The NHS has stated that no booking is required for vaccinations or antibiotics at these locations, and individuals are asked to bring their NHS number if available. Medication cannot be collected on behalf of others. Those who are eligible but have recently left Kent can now request vaccinations and antibiotics from their local GP, covering students who have returned home.
Kent County Council’s director of public health, Dr Anjan Ghosh, said it was “too early to say” if the number of cases had peaked, but indicated that the most likely scenario over the next four weeks was that students who have travelled away from Kent would “incubate” the bug, potentially leading to “household” cases elsewhere. He described a “worst-case scenario” of another cluster forming outside of Kent as “highly unlikely.”
More than 30,000 students, staff, and their families have been contacted by the UKHSA to inform them of the situation, according to the BBC.
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