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 university in Kent has reported a meningitis case just days after the outbreak was labeled a ‘super-spreader’ event. The infection, linked to the initial cluster at Club Chemistry, has now affected students at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU).
Health officials are working to control the meningitis spread in Canterbury, Kent, with preventative antibiotics administered to thousands at the University of Kent. The outbreak has claimed two lives, prompting urgent action to limit further infections.
‘The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has now confirmed one case of meningococcal disease involving a CCCU student. We have reached out to support the individual directly. This case is linked to the initial cluster associated with Club Chemistry,’ said CCCU’s vice-chancellor and principal professor, Rama Thirunamachandran.
Private meningitis B vaccine supplies have depleted, according to the National Pharmacy Association. Boots has introduced a queueing system on its vaccination service page, while Superdrug reports a waiting list due to a ‘national shortage.’
The vaccination service’s booking platform is currently down, displaying a message: ‘We’ll be back shortly. Demand for the Meningitis B Vaccination Service is currently high and we’re experiencing technical issues. We’re working to restore service as quickly as possible.’
The University of Kent announced today that all students residing on the Canterbury campus will receive the meningitis B vaccine over the next few days. Around 5,000 individuals are set to be offered the jab, following four confirmed cases linked to schools in the region.
The outbreak has been elevated to a national incident, with health authorities warning that symptoms may take between two and 14 days to develop. Experts are calling the situation unprecedented due to the rapid rate of new cases.
UKHSA chief executive Susan Hopkins described the outbreak as having ‘explosive’ characteristics: ‘This looks like a super-spreader event, with ongoing spread within the university halls. There will have been some parties particularly around this, so there will have been lots of social mixing. I can’t yet say where the initial infection came from, how it’s got into this cohort, and why it’s created such an explosive amount of infections. In my 35 years working in medicine, in healthcare and hospitals, this is the most cases I’ve seen in a single weekend with this type of infection.’
GPs across the UK have been instructed to prescribe antibiotics to anyone who visited Club Chemistry between March 5-7, as the cases link back to the nightclub’s fresher’s event attended by sixth formers.
One of the individuals in Kent was traced to London, where they went to a hospital with ‘no community contacts in London,’ according to the infection watchdog. A baby girl is also hospitalized, facing surgery after contracting the same strain, though her infection is not currently connected to the Kent outbreak.
Pharmacies Face Shortages
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. And whilst we’re hearing that there may be some stock in the system, it is taking its time to come into our fridges. There’s no date of resupply.’
Health officials emphasized the importance of taking antibiotics as prescribed, noting that a single tablet of Ciprofloxacin can reduce the risk of meningitis in a household by up to 90%.
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