The strain of meningitis behind a deadly outbreak in Oxfordshire is different to the one identified in Kent earlier this year, health officials have said.
One student from Henley College has died and two others who attend different colleges are being treated for the infection following an outbreak in the Reading area.
Close contacts of the cases have been offered antibiotics as a precaution, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said in an update on Friday, and stressed the risk to the wider public remains low.
In the update, the UKHSA also confirmed the strain identified in the first case is different to the one identified in Kent earlier this year, which left two dead.
“UKHSA’s testing on the sample for the first case has confirmed it is not the same strain as Meningitis B outbreaks earlier this year,” the agency told The Independent.
The UKHSA added that the two other people who have been diagnosed attend Reading Blue Coat School and Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre, and are receiving treatment.
In a statement on Thursday, the UKHSA said specialists are “working with local authority and NHS partners following three cases of meningococcal infection (meningitis) in young people in Reading”.
The news was confirmed by the Hart Surgery in Henley-on-Thames.
“Dear patients. We have been in contact with the UK Health Security Agency this morning (14th May) regarding the very sad news that a student at Henley College has died with suspected meningococcal disease,” the GP surgery said in a statement.
“They have confirmed that they are actively contacting those who may be at risk due to a close association with the student involved.
“If you have not been contacted by the UK Health Security Agency, then currently you do not require any treatment. Staff and students have been advised they can attend the college as usual.
“The number of confirmed cases is very low, so there are currently no plans for a local emergency meningitis vaccination programme.”
It comes after two students died in a meningitis outbreak in the Kent area in March – 18-year-old Juliette Kenny, who was described by her family as “fit, healthy and strong” before her death, and a University of Kent student.
Dr Rachel Mearkle, consultant in health protection, said: “We understand that many people will be affected by this sad news and would like to offer our condolences to the friends and family of this student.
“Students and staff will naturally be feeling worried about the likelihood of further cases, however meningococcal meningitis requires very close contact to spread, and large outbreaks, as we saw in Kent recently, are thankfully rare.
“We are working closely with partners and have provided public health advice and precautionary antibiotic treatment to close contacts of the cases.
“Meningococcal disease does not spread easily, and the risk to the wider public remains low.”
Student dies in Reading meningitis outbreak as contacts offered antibiotics
Student dies and two people being treated after meningitis outbreak in Reading
Student dies in new meningitis outbreak in Reading
Expert gives verdict on whether hantavirus outbreak will spread like Covid pandemic
The weight loss method proven to help you shed more pounds and keep them off
New blood test could show if prostate cancer treatment is failing
