UK health minister calls nightclub-linked meningitis outbreak ‘unprecedented’ as cases rise to 15, with two student deaths and a vaccination programme launched.
LONDON: British health minister Wes Streeting (pic) has described a deadly meningitis outbreak linked to a nightclub as “unprecedented”.
The minister told parliament the situation was “rapidly developing” with confirmed cases rising to 15.
Two students have died from the outbreak in Kent, southeastern England. The victims are a 21-year-old university student and an 18-year-old school student.
The outbreak has been traced to Club Chemistry, a large three-storey venue popular with students in Canterbury.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed it had been notified of the 15 cases, which include the two fatalities.
Four cases have been identified as Meningitis B, a rarer and deadlier bacterial strain. According to the National Health Service, Meningitis B causes death in around one in 10 cases.
Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is most common in young children, teenagers and young adults.
The infection can spread through close contact, including “prolonged kissing or sharing vapes and drinks,” Streeting said.
Public health measures are focused on the University of Kent, which has around 18,000 students. Some students are among those hospitalised with meningitis.
The university held a clinic offering antibiotics on Tuesday as students lined up for treatment. Streeting also announced a vaccination programme for students living in university halls.
The minister added that French authorities reported a case on Saturday involving a person in France who had attended the University of Kent.
The UKHSA urged anyone who went to a nightclub in Canterbury between March 5 and 7 to get preventative antibiotics.
The health security agency has faced criticism for an alleged delay in informing the public. It first announced deaths on Sunday, two days after being notified of cases.
UKHSA’s deputy head Gyatri Amirthalingam said the agency took “urgent action” to identify and inform close contacts. “I don’t believe there’s been any delay in terms of the public health response,” she said.
Club Chemistry said on Instagram that one of its staff members was being treated for meningitis. The venue has closed as a precaution.
