University of Kent gives exams and classes update after deadly meningitis outbreak
Classes and assessments have been disrupted by the outbreak, with the University of Kent cancelling in-person exams this week while health officials carry out further checks.
The university said the move was taken as a precaution while public-health teams work to identify close contacts and prevent further infections, although campuses remain open.
Students have also reported seeing health workers wearing protective equipment while carrying out investigations, with some describing staff in masks and protective suits attending accommodation blocks linked to suspected cases.
Officials have not commented on individual incidents but say infection-control measures are routine during outbreaks of suspected meningococcal disease.
The outbreak is also being investigated for possible links to social events attended by some of those who later became ill.
A local nightclub, Club Chemistry, issued a statement which read: “Some people who may have attended Club Chemistry could have been affected by the current outbreak.”
The nightclub says their thoughts are with the families of those who have died and all those affected.
Officials say laboratory testing is continuing to confirm the exact strain responsible for the outbreak, which will help determine whether further measures – including targeted vaccination – may be appropriate.
Anyone with symptoms such as fever, severe headache, vomiting, drowsiness or a rash have been told to seek urgent advice
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In the meantime, health authorities are urging anyone with symptoms such as fever, severe headache, vomiting, drowsiness or a rash that does not fade under pressure to seek urgent medical advice.
The outbreak has renewed debate about vaccination, particularly against meningococcal group B, known as MenB, which now accounts for most of the severe cases of the disease in the UK.
Dr David Elliman, Honorary Associate Professor in Child Health at the Great Ormond Street Hospital Institute of Child Health, said vaccination programmes had already led to “large reductions in disease and death”, but warned available vaccines may not be good protection for meningitis B.
He said: “The vaccination programmes against meningococcal disease have been very successful with large reductions in disease and death. The commonest strain now causing disease is that due to the B strain (MenB) with children below a year and young people 15-24 years old at greatest risk.
Students are queuing up for vaccinations
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“Part of the benefit of many vaccines is to stop people carrying the germ and passing it on to others. The vaccines against the A, C, W and Y strains do this very well, which is, in part, why the disease they cause is now very uncommon.
This is not true for the MenB vaccine, which has to be made in a different way. It has little, if any, benefit in terms of reducing (people carrying the bacteria) this carriage.”
He added any decision to expand vaccination would need to weigh the benefits carefully: “The MenB germ varies and not all variants are prevented by the vaccine. In addition, the protection from the vaccine appears not to last as long as that from the Men ACWY vaccines. All these factors mean that, although the vaccine has been very useful, the benefits from the MenB vaccine are perhaps less than those from the Men ACWY vaccines, overall.
“I am sure the situation is kept under review, but before introducing the vaccine more widely, one would have to consider whether it would have sufficient benefit to outweigh the resources needed – it is an expensive vaccine. The money may be best spent on finding an alternative vaccine.”
Professor Mark Fielder, professor of medical microbiology at Kingston University, said the outbreak highlights how serious meningococcal disease can become once the infection spreads through the bloodstream.
He said the illness “has the capability of leading to permanent nerve or brain damage, as well as potentially leading to a life-threatening sepsis infection”, adding that antibiotics are routinely given to contacts during outbreaks to limit further spread.
Professor Paul Hunter, from the University of East Anglia, warned that meningitis B can cause patients to deteriorate extremely quickly.
He said: “Invasive meningococcal disease is a very serious infection that causes meningitis and septicaemia.
“The most important thing any friend or parent can do is realise the person may have this infection and seek medical help. Early treatment is vital, but diagnosis in the early hours of the illness can be very difficult. Early symptoms can be very mild but then deterioration can be extremely rapid leading to death within a few hours.”
