Two students at the University of Kent have died following an outbreak of invasive meningitis. BBC South East understands that a further 11 students from the Canterbury area are currently in hospital and reported to be seriously ill.
More than 30,000 students, staff, and their families are being contacted by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to inform them of the situation. Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord and can be serious if not treated promptly.
A UKHSA spokesperson said it was arranging antibiotics for some students in the Canterbury area following the outbreak, and that the specific strain of the disease has not been identified. The BBC understands the outbreak is thought to be linked to a party in Canterbury, which some of the students who fell ill attended.
Specialists at the UKHSA are interviewing those affected to identify close contacts, a spokesperson said. Symptoms of meningitis include a high fever, being sick, and a severe and worsening headache, but can also cause life-threatening sepsis. Other characteristic symptoms include a rash which does not fade when a glass is rolled over it.
Trish Mannes, UKHSA regional deputy director for the South East, said students can be at risk of missing symptoms by confusing them for “a bad cold, flu, or even a hangover.” She added: “Students and staff will understandably be feeling worried about the risk of further cases; however, we would like to reassure them that close contacts of cases have been given antibiotics as a precautionary measure.”
Anyone becoming unwell with symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia is urged to go to their closest A&E department or call 999. Meningitis can affect anyone but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers, and young adults.
Fonte: BBC News
