The UK meningitis outbreak centred on a university has grown to 20 suspected cases, with two young people having died from the rare bacterial strain.
LONDON: The number of suspected meningitis cases being investigated by UK health authorities has risen to 20 following an unprecedented outbreak centred on a university.
The UK Health Security Agency confirmed that as of Tuesday evening, nine laboratory cases were confirmed and 11 notifications remained under investigation.
The outbreak in Kent has already claimed the lives of two young people, a 21-year-old university student and an 18-year-old school student.
Public health measures have focused on the University of Kent, which has around 18,000 students, with some among those hospitalised with the infection.
Health Minister Wes Streeting told parliament the rapidly developing situation had seen 15 cases under investigation a day earlier.
Six of the confirmed cases are of the rarer and deadlier group B meningococcal bacterial disease.
The current outbreak among students has been linked to a nightclub in the city of Canterbury.
Meningitis is a potentially deadly infection affecting the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and is most common in young children, teenagers and young adults.
The UKHSA said it was also investigating the case of a baby with confirmed Meningococcal group B infection who was apparently not linked to the outbreak.
The baby girl is reportedly in hospital in nearby Folkestone.
