Meningitis in Kent: Two young people dead and 11 seriously ill in outbreak

Two young people have died and 11 others are seriously ill in hospital after an outbreak of invasive meningococcal meningitis in Kent, England.1The two who died have been confirmed as a student at the University of Kent and a sixth form pupil from a school in Faversham. Most of those admitted to hospital as a result of the outbreak are believed to be students.UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) specialists are currently interviewing the people affected and their families to identify all close contacts and to distribute antibiotics in a bid to limit spread of the disease. The specific strain of meningitis has not yet been identified, the UKHSA said.Trish Mannes, UKHSA regional deputy director for the south east, said, “Meningococcal disease can progress rapidly, so it’s essential that students and staff are alert to the signs and symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, which can include a fever, headache, rapid...