Number of meningitis cases rises as officials deal with ‘unprecedented’ outbreak

• The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is now investigating 20 cases of meningitis in Kent, an increase from 15, with health officials describing the outbreak as unprecedented due to its rapid spread. Six of the confirmed cases have been confirmed as the meningitis B strain.
• The outbreak is considered a "super-spreader event," with many affected individuals having attended Club Chemistry in Canterbury between 5-7 March.
• A targeted vaccination programme will offer the meningitis B vaccine to approximately 5,000 university students living in halls of residence in Kent, starting in the coming days. Olivier Picard, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme there was currently no stock of meningitis B vaccines for people to pay for privately.
• Hundreds of people are being offered antibiotics, and the UKHSA is conducting whole genome sequencing to determine if a new or mutant strain of menB is responsible for the explosive nature of the infections.
• While the outbreak is currently contained to Kent, England’s deputy chief medical officer, Dr Thomas Waite, highlighted its national significance, though health officials reassure there is no evidence of wider spread across the country.