Experts suggest “peak” of initial meningitis “superspreading event” has passed

The “peak” of the initial meningitis “superspreading event” at Club Chemistry in Canterbury has already passed, experts suggest.

However, secondary cases affecting people who were not infected at the nightclub, but caught the illness from someone who was there, are still a possibility.

Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said: “The incubation period, though a little uncertain, ranges from two to 10 days so I think we can be fairly certain that the peak from the initial superspreading event will have already passed.

“The question remains whether there will be any secondary cases i.e. any cases that didn’t get their infection from the night club but from someone else who did attend.

“Hopefully the antibiotic and vaccine will prevent those, but still a possibility. Even if we do see secondary cases, I doubt there will be as many as in the primary wave, though cannot be certain.”

Kent County Council director of public health Dr Anjan Ghosh said the latest numbers were 29 cases as of Thursday at 5pm.

There were 18 confirmed, 11 under investigation and “sadly two died so condolences to the family”.

“Luckily we don’t have further deaths to report,” he said.

One of the Kent schools that previously had a suspected meningitis case has confirmed their student has tested negative.

Duncan Beer, headteacher of Highworth Grammar School in Ashford, said in a statement: “We have received information from the UK Health Security Agency that the test was negative for meningitis for our Highworth student.

“The family has confirmed this with us and the student is doing well. Therefore, we have been advised that there is no need for anyone to receive any antibiotics or vaccinations in connection to this person nor the school.

“However, there may be some people who meet the other criteria of eligibility for antibiotics or vaccinations and we have directed our school community to that information.”