Meningitis B Outbreak Recorded in England

An outbreak of meningitis B has been recorded in southeast England, with 20 confirmed or suspected cases to date. This was reported by Euronews. Health authorities in the United Kingdom are investigating an outbreak of bacterial meningitis B, which has so far claimed the lives of two young people in the university city of Canterbury in southeast England.

The UK Health Security Agency reports that it is still awaiting confirmation of a further 11 cases of the disease in the city, bringing the total number of confirmed and suspected cases to 20.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC that authorities are “actively managing” the spread of the infection, adding that “the overall risk is low, although the disease itself is extremely serious.”

Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, known as the meninges.

“You have an infection that leads to inflammation of the membranes surrounding your brain. These are called the meninges, which is why the disease is called meningitis,” explains Jethro Herberg, a consultant pediatrician in infectious diseases at Imperial College London.

“This can be caused by a whole range of different pathogens. Some are viruses, and others are bacteria. In this case, it is bacterial meningitis, which is usually more severe,” he adds.

Meningitis B is a bacterial form of meningitis that is typically more serious than viral forms. Since 2015, newborns in the UK have been immunized against meningitis B. They receive one dose at eight weeks, a second at 12 weeks, and a booster at one year. However, teenagers born before September 2015 may not have received the vaccine and can currently only obtain it privately. The current outbreak may lead to a change in this approach. Meningitis can be transmitted through close contact, such as coughing, kissing, or sharing utensils.

Associate Professor Simon Clarke, a cellular microbiologist at the University of Reading, points out that doctors in Canterbury were likely alerted by the symptoms presented by the teenagers.

“If people feel unwell, develop a sudden high fever, often with chills, neck pain and, of course, the characteristic rash that famously does not disappear under pressure from a glass—as an ordinary allergic rash would—these are typical signs of a meningococcal infection,” he says.

However, Herberg notes that symptoms alone cannot determine the exact strain.

“Symptoms alone are not enough to show us exactly which strain is causing the meningitis, so it takes time to understand exactly which one is responsible for this outbreak. This can only be done by isolating and culturing the causative agent from a sample taken from a patient,” he explains.

The UK Health Security Agency has linked the outbreak to a local nightclub in Canterbury, where a staff member is suspected to have been infected with meningitis B. One of the two fatalities was a senior student from the nearby town of Faversham. At the university, staff are distributing protective masks and antibiotics. The government also announced that students will be offered the meningitis B vaccine.

Vaccination is a key tool, but it does not provide immediate protection.

“The vaccine must be administered in two doses several weeks apart, and after the second dose, it is necessary to wait a few more weeks for full protection. Therefore, the way to control the current outbreak will be through antibiotics,” explains Clarke.

Health authorities indicate that a single course of antibiotic treatment is highly effective in preventing infection and limiting its spread in approximately 90% of cases. Currently, four vaccination centers are operating in Canterbury, with approximately 11,000 doses available.