Meningitis outbreak: Henley College student dies as two young people in Reading treated - plans for antibiotics and vaccine rollout
Antibiotics to be offered in the latest meningitis outbreak which has take the life of a student in Henley on Thames - but will there be a vaccination roll out?
The death of a student in Reading following an outbreak of meningitis has prompted moves to offer antibiotics to close contacts of people linked to the cluster of cases. Two other young people are being treated after at least one case was confirmed as meningitis B (MenB) - the illness linked to fatal cases in Kent in March.
However, it is understood the most recent case in Berkshire is not the same strain of MenB linked to the outbreaks in Kent and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the risk to the public remains low. The UKHSA said specialists were “working with local authority and NHS partners following three cases of meningococcal infection (meningitis) in young people in Reading”.
According to a GP surgery based in Henley-on-Thames, the person who died with suspected meningitis was a student at Henley College in Oxfordshire, with the other two cases believed to be linked to schools in the Reading area. The Hart Surgery said: “We have been in contact with the UK Health Security Agency this morning (May 14) regarding the very sad news that a student at Henley College has died with suspected meningococcal disease.
“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.”
Henley College, in Henley-on-Thames, is a sixth-form college with more than 2,000 full-time students which teaches more than 60 A-level subjects and vocational diplomas, according to its website.
On Thursday (May 14) Dr Paddy Woodman, director of student services at the University of Reading, said: “While there are no reported cases among University of Reading students, I know that our students, staff and family members may be concerned. We will be contacting students to remind them of existing information about looking out for signs of meningitis, and the importance of acting immediately on any worrying symptoms, as well as checking their vaccination status.”
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.”
Meningitis Now’s chief executive, Dr Tom Nutt, added: “Everyone at Meningitis Now is deeply saddened and concerned to hear reports of a suspected outbreak of meningitis affecting young people in Reading and the surrounding area, including the tragic death of a young person. We would urge people to remain vigilant and aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease. Meningitis can become life-threatening very quickly and early diagnosis and treatment are absolutely vital.”
Dr Nutt said symptoms can appear in “any order” and may include a high temperature, severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, confusion, drowsiness, cold hands and feet, severe muscle pain, and a rash that does not fade under pressure.
“Teenagers and young adults are among the groups most at risk from meningococcal disease, and the recent outbreak in Kent has shown how quickly cases can emerge,” he added.
Hundreds of people were given the MenB vaccine or antibiotics to stem the spread of the bug in the Kent outbreak.