Meningitis cases surge to 20 following outbreak in Kent
The number of cases of meningitis being investigated by health officials linked to the Kent outbreak has risen to 20.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that, as of 5pm on Tuesday, some 20 cases of meningitis had been reported to it, up from 15 on Tuesday.
Of these, nine cases have been confirmed in the lab and 11 remain under investigation.
Six of the confirmed cases have been confirmed as the meningitis B strain.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said most students would not already be vaccinated against menB, adding that the jabs will begin in the next few days.
He told MPs yesterday: “This is an unprecedented outbreak. It is also a rapidly developing situation.”
He said the menB vaccine has been available on the NHS since 2015 as part of routine childhood immunisations, “but clearly most students would not be vaccinated.”
He added: “Given the severity of the situation, I can confirm to the House that we will begin a targeted vaccination programme for students living in halls of residence at the University of Kent in Canterbury, which will begin in the coming days.”
The outbreak has caused queues for treatment at the University of Kent
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GPs across the country have now been told to prescribe antibiotics to anyone who visited a nightclub in Canterbury from March 5-7, plus students from the University of Kent.
This is to ensure anyone who has left campus can make sure they get the right treatment.
England’s deputy chief medical officer Dr Thomas Waite said: “This is by far the quickest-growing outbreak I’ve ever seen in my career, and I think probably any of us have seen, of meningitis for a very long time.
“Whilst it remains an outbreak that is having its consequences in Kent, it is obviously of national significance.”
Club Chemistry is at the centre of the outbreak
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PA