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University of Kent students who have returned home to Wales have been urged to contact their GPs following the meningitis B (meningococcal disease) outbreak in Canterbury.
Public Health Wales (PHW) is advising Welsh students who lived in campus accommodation at the university, or visited the Club Chemistry nightclub between March 5 and March 7, to get preventative antibiotics their GP.
PHW has said it is working with partners, including the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to identify people associated with the incident.
Two people have died following the outbreak in Kent, which is now being treated as a national incident, UK health secretary Wes Streeting confirmed.
What is meningococcal disease?
Meningococcal disease is a serious but uncommon illness caused by meningococcal bacteria. It can lead to meningitis – inflammation of the lining of the brain – and sepsis (blood poisoning).
The onset can be sudden. There are multiple strains of meningococcal bacteria – MenA, MenB, MenC, MenW, MenX, MenY.
Transmission of MenB requires close and prolonged contact to spread, including living in the same household and intimate contact such as kissing, or sharing drinks or vapes. The bacteria is not as contagious as other infections such as measles and Covid-19.
Wendi Shepherd, PHW’s deputy director of health protection, said: “As students from the University of Kent return home, it is important that they access preventative antibiotics if eligible, both to protect themselves and to prevent any transmission to others.
“We are working with UKHSA to identify people who may be eligible for vaccination.”
Vaccination and symptoms
Dr Christopher Johnson, head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme at PHW, said: “While meningococcal disease is rare, it can become very serious quickly.
“Recent surveillance data show that cases in Wales remain relatively low, with 18 notifications of meningococcal disease reported in 2023 and 19 reported in 2024.”
Dr Johnson highlighted the importance of vaccination and said: “In Wales, vaccines that protect against several types of meningococcal bacteria – including types A, B C, W and Y – are offered as part of the routine NHS immunisation programme for infants (Meningococcal type B) and teenagers (Meningococcal types A, C, W and Y).”
He continued: “The most important thing people can do is to be aware of the symptoms and seek urgent medical advice if they are concerned. Early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics can significantly improve outcomes.
“There are a number of symptoms which include high temperature, severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, confusion or drowsiness, cold hands and feet, limb pain, and a rash that does not fade when pressed.”
What are the symptoms?
Early symptoms, which may not always all be present, include:
- Fever
- Severe headache
- Vomiting
- Stiff neck
- A dislike of bright lights
- A rash which does not fade when pressed with a glass (do not wait for a rash to appear before seeking medical advice)
- Confusion
- Being very sleepy or difficult to wake
- Seizures or fits
Source: Public Health Wales
He added: “Not everyone will have all of the symptoms and the rash does not always appear, so if someone becomes suddenly unwell or symptoms worsen quickly, it is important to seek medical help immediately.”
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