A mutated version of meningitis is suspected to be the primary cause behind the deadly outbreak in Kent. The UK Health Security Agency has issued a technical report after studying the genetic makeup of the bacteria responsible for the deaths of two individuals. The agency stated that the ongoing outbreak is linked to a strain of MenB commonly found in the UK but with identified genetic variations that might be driving the outbreak. Fortunately, this strain is treatable with antibiotics and the existing MenB vaccine.
To combat the outbreak, targeted vaccination efforts have been expanded to include Year 11 students in addition to Kent University students and local sixth formers. The technical briefing revealed that the outbreak strain, designated ST-485, P1.12-1,16-183, emerged in England in 2020. However, the current outbreak genome differs significantly within this subtype, raising concerns about its potential impact on the bacteria’s behavior.
The outbreak, tied to a significant event at a nightclub in Canterbury, has tragically claimed the lives of a 21-year-old university student and an 18-year-old grammar school pupil named Juliette Kenny. The UKHSA reported that no new cases were identified for the second consecutive day, reducing the total linked cases to 23 after reevaluation showed that six individuals had fallen ill due to other conditions.
The UKHSA has been issuing daily updates on the “unprecedented” outbreak and hosted a media briefing to provide the latest information. Professor Robin May, the Chief Scientific Officer at the UK Health Security Agency, emphasized that current vaccines and treatments are likely effective against this strain. Ongoing investigations aim to understand how the outbreak spread and the role of bacterial strain, social factors, and population immunity.
The agency has identified the strain as serogroup B meningococcus (MenB), part of the clonal complex 41/44, the most prevalent serogroup in the UK. Health Secretary Wes Streeting commended the efforts to contain the outbreak, while officials warned of the possibility of isolated clusters appearing in other regions.
