The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is looking into a case involving a student from outside Kent who was hospitalized with meningitis, as per information obtained by the Mirror. This investigation comes right after the agency pinpointed the strain responsible for the recent outbreak over the weekend.
Escape Studios, a school specializing in game development, VFX, and animation located in North Greenwich, informed students via email on Tuesday about a fellow student who was hospitalized and diagnosed with meningitis. The school expressed wishes for a quick recovery and mentioned that the UKHSA is evaluating the situation, identifying close contacts, and determining necessary actions. It remains unclear if the affected student is part of the 20 cases linked to the Kent outbreak reported since the weekend.
In the event of being identified as a close contact, individuals will receive direct communication from the UKHSA with relevant information and instructions to follow closely. The UKHSA declined to provide comments on the case related to London, and Escape Studios also refrained from making any statements. A student forwarded the email to the Mirror, stating that contacts were being traced for antibiotic treatment, but no further details were shared.
The outbreak in Kent has resulted in two deaths and the hospitalization of 11 individuals, although any connection between the fatalities remains unconfirmed. One of the deceased, identified as Juliette, a Year 13 student at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham, was remembered for her friendship and positive qualities.
The other fatality is a 21-year-old student from Kent University, yet to be named. Several young people have been hospitalized, with some placed in induced comas. The UKHSA reported a total of 15 cases, all requiring hospitalization, with four confirmed as meningitis B infections.
Efforts are ongoing to manage the outbreak, particularly affecting the University of Kent. Individuals who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury on March 5, 6, or 7 are urged to seek antibiotics as a precautionary measure. The UKHSA has advised over 16,000 staff and students at the University of Kent, offering antibiotics as needed. The agency noted an increase in the number of cases under investigation to 20 from the initial 15.
Despite the availability of a meningitis B vaccination introduced in 2015, many young people born before that time are not immunized unless they received the jab privately.
