How many confirmed meningitis cases are there in Kent?

Confirmed cases of meningitis B in Kent have fallen to 29 following laboratory reclassifications.

What is being done to address the meningitis outbreak in Kent?

Students are being offered the meningitis B vaccine and preventative antibiotics, and health authorities are working closely with NHS England and local authorities to respond quickly to new cases.

What is meningitis and how does it spread?

Meningitis is an infection that inflames the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and it can spread through close contact such as coughing, kissing, or sharing utensils.

Home / Health / Kent Meningitis Cases Drop After Reclassification

Kent Meningitis Cases Drop After Reclassification

23 Mar

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Summary

Confirmed meningitis cases in Kent have decreased to 29.
The outbreak is linked to a nightclub in Canterbury.
Students are now being offered meningitis B vaccination.

Kent Meningitis Cases Drop After Reclassification

Confirmed cases of meningitis B in Kent have decreased to 29, a reduction from the previously reported 34 cases, due to laboratory reclassifications. The outbreak has resulted in two confirmed deaths: a 21-year-old university student and a sixth-form pupil. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) expects further downgrades as more assessments are completed.

The outbreak is associated with a nightclub in Canterbury, southeast England. In response, university staff are distributing face masks and antibiotics, and the government has announced the availability of the meningitis B vaccine for students. This vaccination offers long-term protection, while immediate preventative antibiotics are recommended.

University students, including those who have returned home, can access both vaccination and antibiotics through their local general practitioner. Health authorities urge individuals to recognize the symptoms of invasive meningococcal disease and seek urgent medical attention. Routine MenB vaccination for infants was introduced in the UK in 2015.

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