Health authorities are talking about the fastest outbreak in recent decades. The infection also reached London, and the demand for vaccines exploded.
An outbreak of meningitis unprecedented in recent years has put health authorities in Great Britain on fire. In just a few days, 15 people were admitted to the hospital, two of them lost their lives.
“The fastest outbreak I’ve ever seen”
Dr. Thomas Waite said this was “by far the fastest outbreak of meningitis” he had seen in his career.
Susan Hopkins, chief executive of the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA), confirmed that in 35 years of medical practice she had never seen so many cases in one weekend. “The explosive nature of this outbreak is unprecedented,” Hopkins said, adding that the NHS is managing the situation as a major incident with nationwide surveillance.
The first cases were discovered in Kent
Five schools in Kent have reported cases and a patient who traveled to London is now hospitalized there. Four of the 15 cases have been confirmed as meningitis B, and the total is expected to rise, with an incubation period of two to 14 days.
An 18-year-old girl, among the victims
Among those who lost their lives was Juliette, an 18-year-old pupil at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham, who died on Saturday. Her father said the family was “devastated and at a loss for words”.
Demand for vaccines has exploded
Pharmacies across the country are reporting a massive increase in requests for the MenB vaccine. Superdrug has announced that appointments for its meningitis service have increased 65 times since last week. UKHSA has launched a targeted vaccination campaign for students at the University of Kent and has already distributed 700 doses of antibiotics.
The vaccine is available from several pharmacy chains, including Boots, Superdrug, Well Pharmacy and Asda, priced between £110 and £220, but appointment availability varies. In Canterbury, for example, places at Boots are already sold out.
What the authorities recommend
Authorities advise everyone to be aware of symptoms and not ignore them, especially if they worsen quickly. Warning signs include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, and rashes that do not go away with pressure. If you notice these symptoms in yourself or someone close to you, call NHS 111 for advice or 999 in serious cases.
Timely antibiotic treatment can save lives
Meningococcal meningitis is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, which is transmitted through coughing or sneezing, kissing, sharing glasses. University environments, where young people live, learn and socialize intensively in common spaces, are the ideal terrain for rapid spread. Although the overall risk remains low, the proportion of cases among young people and students is significantly higher than in other age groups.
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