Meningitis outbreak spreads to second university in Kent after vaccine supplies dwindle
Meningitis outbreak spreads to second university in Kent after vaccine supplies dwindle
A second meningitis case has been identified at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) following the classification of the outbreak as a ‘super-spreader’ event. The University of Kent, where the initial cluster was reported, has now expanded its preventative measures to include thousands of students in the Canterbury campus, aiming to halt the infection that has claimed two lives.
Health officials are working to control the meningitis outbreak in Canterbury, Kent, administering preventative antibiotics to thousands of students at the University of Kent to reduce the spread of the infection, which has resulted in two fatalities. The outbreak has escalated to a national incident, with the potential for case numbers to increase as symptoms may develop between two to 14 days post-exposure.
CCCU’s vice-chancellor and principal professor, Rama Thirunamachandran, stated: ‘The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed one meningococcal disease case involving a CCCU student. We have contacted the affected individual for direct support. This case is connected to the original cluster linked to Club Chemistry.’
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Pharmacy shortages and vaccine access
The National Pharmacy Association reports that private meningitis B vaccine supplies have depleted. Boots has implemented a queueing system for its vaccination service, alerting users to the high demand for the MenB jab, while Superdrug reports a waiting list due to a ‘national shortage.’
The pharmacy’s vaccination booking page is temporarily unavailable, displaying a message: ‘We’ll be back soon. Demand for the Meningitis B Vaccination Service is intense, and we’re experiencing some technical issues. We’re working to resolve them as quickly as possible.’
The University of Kent announced that all students residing on the Canterbury campus will receive MenB vaccines starting today. Meanwhile, schools in Kent are also offering the jab after four confirmed cases linked to them.
UKHSA chief executive Susan Hopkins remarked: ‘This outbreak resembles a super-spreader event, with ongoing transmission observed within university residences. Parties held around this period likely contributed to significant social interaction, facilitating the spread. I can’t yet determine the origin of the initial infection or the specific pathway leading to this rapid increase in cases. In my 35 years of experience in medicine and healthcare, this is the highest number of cases I’ve encountered in a single weekend for this type of infection. The explosive spread is what makes this situation unique.’
GPs across the UK have been instructed to prescribe antibiotics to individuals who attended Club Chemistry in Canterbury between March 5 and 7, according to the UKHSA. The cases link back to the nightclub, which hosted a fresher’s event attended by sixth formers.
A baby girl is hospitalized and may require surgery after contracting the same meningitis strain, though her case is not yet connected to the Kent outbreak.
Olivier Picard, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘Unfortunately, that supply has run out, and most of our distributors, wholesalers have no stock. Whilst we’re hearing that there may be some stock in the system, it is taking its time to reach our fridges. There’s no date of resupply.’
Antibiotics are recommended for anyone prescribed them, as a single tablet of Ciprofloxacin reduces the risk of meningitis in one household by up to 90%. Six of the confirmed cases have been found to be group B meningococcal disease, the UKHSA said.
One individual in Kent was traced to London, where they visited a hospital with ‘no community contacts in London,’ the infection watchdog noted.
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