Two students have tragically died, while 11 others remain in serious condition in hospital following an “invasive” outbreak of meningitis in Kent, Britain.
Extraordinary scenes have been reported, with masked people queuing for antibiotics, and at least three schools confirming cases of infection.
According to The Sun, health officials are urgently trying to identify anyone who may have been exposed to the disease in order to stop its spread.
The strain is a type of meningitis B, known as MenB, which can be fatal within just a few hours.
A high school student, 18-year-old Juliette Kenny, died on Saturday after becoming a victim of this deadly bacterium. Meanwhile, a 21-year-old student from the University of Kent has also died after being infected with the disease.
Investigations have focused on a well-known venue, Club Chemistr, a three-story nightclub in Canterbury. Health officials have urged anyone who was at the club on March 5, 6, or 7 to come forward for antibiotic treatment as a precaution.
Officials are concerned that the meningitis outbreak could spread beyond the region, as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) admitted it had been aware of a cluster of cases a day before informing the public on Sunday, according to The Telegraph.
Emergency measures are being taken across Kent to combat the infection before students return home, with 16,000 university students and staff receiving health guidance. A health source said it is already becoming clear that the infection has spread beyond Canterbury, with cases reported in nearby towns such as Ashford and Whitstable.
Thousands of young people may have unknowingly carried the infection after attending parties and nightclubs over the weekend. Many students are from Kent, but a large number also come from London.
Officials are now trying to bring the spread under control, with NHS leaders and local health authorities holding an emergency meeting on Monday to develop a plan and “resolve confusion.”
Dr. Gayatri Amirthalingam told the BBC that, for now, the outbreak is largely confined to Kent.
“Despite how serious and devastating this current outbreak is, it is mainly localized in Canterbury and Kent; we are not seeing wider spread,” she said.
She also added that the disease does not spread easily but requires very close and prolonged or intimate contact.
Close contacts of confirmed cases are being advised to seek treatment even if they do not have symptoms such as vomiting, high fever, severe headache, or rash. Hundreds of students have received preventive antibiotics following the two tragic deaths.
At least 11 people, all aged between 17 and 21, are critically ill in hospital with meningitis, which causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Three schools and the university have confirmed cases, and classes have been canceled.
In a Facebook post, Whitstable Medical Practice said: “Please attend your nearest A&E department immediately.”
NHS Inform states that meningitis can spread through “sharing utensils such as cups and spoons, as well as through sneezing, coughing, and kissing.” Vaping is not listed by health authorities as a transmission route.
However, Prof. Andrew Preston, Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis at the University of Bath, said it may spread in a similar way to sharing utensils or drinks.
Not everyone who carries the virus or bacteria that cause meningitis in their throat shows symptoms or becomes ill.
The bacteria must cross the blood-brain barrier into the meninges—the protective membranes surrounding the brain—to cause the disease.
Public health teams have acted quickly, with UKHSA specialists interviewing affected individuals and their families to identify all close contacts and arrange antibiotics to limit the spread.
