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Following a lethal meningitis outbreak in the Canterbury area of Kent, authorities have initiated a “targeted vaccination programme” at the University of Kent. The number of invasive meningitis cases has risen from 13 to 15, including two fatalities: a 21-year-old university student and Juliette, an 18-year-old sixth form pupil at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham. Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the incident as an “unprecedented outbreak” and a “rapidly developing situation.”
Approximately 5,000 students residing in university halls across Kent are set to receive the meningitis B vaccine in the coming days to help curb further infections. Alongside this, several schools in the county have reported confirmed or suspected cases, prompting hundreds of individuals to be offered immediate antibiotic treatment. Despite widespread demand for private meningitis vaccinations nationwide, many pharmacies have reported running low on stock or having completely depleted supplies.
One of the patients, Keeleigh Goodwin, who likely contracted the disease at a Canterbury nightclub called Club Chemistry, is currently recovering in hospital after collapsing in her flat. Keeleigh described ongoing symptoms, including headaches and aching sensations traveling down her legs, along with injuries sustained from a seizure. Her mother, Kharli Goodwin, recounted how Keeleigh’s flatmates played a crucial role in saving her life after she became delirious and unable to communicate or see properly following her collapse.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that four of the cases involve meningitis B (MenB), which is the most prevalent cause of meningococcal meningitis in the UK. Since routine MenB vaccinations were only introduced in 2015, many current students and young adults remain unvaccinated. UKHSA’s chief executive, Susan Hopkins, characterized the outbreak as akin to a “super spreader event” and noted that this surge of cases was unprecedented in her 35 years of medical experience. Laboratory teams are currently analyzing whether a mutant strain might be responsible, with the genome undergoing sequencing and vaccine effectiveness being assessed. Meanwhile, public health officials are urging anyone who visited Club Chemistry between 5 and 7 March to seek preventative antibiotic treatment, as the University of Kent keeps its campus open but has canceled upcoming assessments
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