The meningitis outbreak spread to a second university in Kent today as health officials battled to halt Britain’s worst outbreak of the infection in a generation.
Canterbury Christ Church University revealed this afternoon that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) had confirmed a case of meningitis in one of its students.
The university said it ‘informed the limited number of close contacts of the individual that they should receive precautionary antibiotics, if they have not done so already’.
Officials also confirmed the case was linked to the initial cluster from events at Club Chemistry nightclub on March 5, 6 and 7. The university will remain open for now.
Canterbury Christ Church University Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Rama Thirunamachandran said today: ‘The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has now confirmed one case of meningococcal disease involving a CCCU student.
‘We have reached out to support the individual directly. This case is linked to the initial cluster associated with Club Chemistry. We continue to work with UKHSA, public health clinicians and other partners on the appropriate response.
‘We recognise this is an anxious and challenging time for the CCCU and wider community, and the wellbeing of our students and staff remains our absolute priority. In line with UKHSA advice, our campus remains open and core teaching, learning and research activities will continue.’
It comes after the UKHSA confirmed the number of cases of meningitis being investigated in Kent increased to 20 today, up from the 15 declared yesterday.
Scenes outside the University of Kent in Canterbury today after the meningitis outbreak
Nine-month-old Nala-Rose Fletcher is in intensive care at Evelina London Children’s Hospital
People walk past Club Chemistry today after it was linked to the meningitis outbreak
The empty campus at the University of Kent in Canterbury today amid the meningitis outbreak
Annabelle Mackay (circled), a 21-year-old law undergraduate, was left blind and unable to walk after contracting meningitis B following her birthday celebrations at Club Chemistry
Of the 20 total, nine have been confirmed in the lab and 11 remain under investigation. Six of the confirmed cases so far have been established to be meningitis B.
The National Pharmacy Association industry group revealed this morning that there was now no stock of meningitis B vaccines available for people to pay for privately.
The UKHSA declared a national incident after a grammar school pupil and a University of Kent student died – and cases were reported in London and France.
A baby is also fighting for her life in a London hospital after becoming unwell on March 4, just days before the cluster of meningitis cases emerged in Canterbury.
Nine-month-old Nala-Rose Fletcher, from Folkestone, is in intensive care at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, as doctors warned she faces ‘life-changing’ surgeries.
The outbreak has already killed Juliette Kenny, an 18-year-old pupil at a sixth-form in Faversham, and a University of Kent student aged 21 who has not yet been named.
Experts fear events at Club Chemistry may have acted as ‘super spreaders’ and cases could rise in the coming days.
It comes as the University of Kent said the rollout of a meningitis B vaccine to about 5,000 students who are part of its Canterbury campus has begun.
In partnership with the UKHSA, the university is rolling out vaccines and is continuing to offer thousands of doses of antibiotics to students and staff.
It remains unclear how students who have already left campus will get a vaccine, though it is understood they should be able to get one through their GP practice.
At the university, the sports hall has at least 15 single tables for the first wave of meningitis vaccinations. Nurses with plastic aprons and face masks were gathered waiting for students and staff to arrive at Sports Hall 2 on the Canterbury campus.
GPs across the country have now been told to prescribe antibiotics to anyone who visited Club Chemistry from March 5 to 7, plus students from the University of Kent.
The outbreak is being viewed by experts as unprecedented owing to the high number of cases appearing in such a short space of time.
The UKHSA stressed there is plenty of NHS stocks of menB vaccines after pharmacies reported they were struggling to obtain stock for people who want to pay privately.
All reported cases so far have a link to Kent, according to the UKHSA. At least one person who fell ill and had links to Kent attended a London hospital.
This person had ‘no community contacts in London’, the UKHSA said, suggesting the risk of spread in the capital is low.
Meanwhile, French authorities said a person who was admitted to hospital with meningitis in France after coming back from England is now in a ‘stable’ condition.
At Prime Minister’s Questions Sir Keir Starmer expressed his condolences.
He said: ‘Our deepest condolences are with the families and friends of the two young people who have died following the outbreak of meningitis B in Kent. Others are seriously ill. This will be a deeply difficult time for their loved ones.’
Health Secretary Wes Streeting told BBC Breakfast: ‘What’s worried us about the Canterbury outbreak is the pace and extent of the spread of the disease.
‘That is unprecedented, and that’s why we are being so proactive in the provision of antibiotics, because they’re an effective treatment, but also standing up vaccination at a pace and in a way that we wouldn’t normally do.
‘I hope that that will give some reassurance to people.’
Asked if there was concern the outbreak could spread to other parts of the country as students leave Canterbury, Mr Streeting said: ‘No, and lots of students from Kent have already gone home.
‘It’s exam week at the university this week, so there are still quite a few students around sitting their exams. Lots of students will have gone home, and that’s fine. That’s OK.
‘What we need people to do is to think through in terms of their individual situations – were they at Club Chemistry on March 5, 6 or 7? If the answer to that question is yes, the sensible thing to do is to access antibiotics.’
He added that other students at schools and the college in Canterbury should still attend.
‘The reassuring thing here is that this disease spreads through close, personal contact. So it is things like kissing, sharing drinks, sharing vapes.’
For people seeking vaccines privately, Boots has implemented a queuing system to enter its website, with a warning that demand for its menB vaccination service is currently high.
Superdrug has also created a waiting list, with a note on its website informing customers of a ‘national shortage’ of the jab. It said it is ‘working with suppliers to access further stock’.
Mr Streeting said he understood why people would want to access vaccines privately but people do not need to, adding there was plenty of NHS stock for those who have been told they need a jab.
Meanwhile student Annabelle Mackay revealed she had been partying at Club Chemistry on March 4 into the early hours of March 5 before falling gravely ill.
The 21-year-old law undergraduate was left blind and unable to walk after contracting meningitis B following her birthday celebrations. She collapsed at her home in Canterbury as her condition rapidly worsened.
Unable to see, move or speak by the time she reached urgent care, she survived only because her housemates acted quickly – carrying her to a car after her mother, on the phone, realised something was dangerously wrong.
Doctors later confirmed the diagnosis, with Miss Mackay saying her body had already begun to shut down, reported The Sun.
Laboratory scientists are urgently trying to work out if the spread is caused by a possible mutant strain of menB.
The genome of the menB strain identified in the outbreak is undergoing whole genome sequencing to see if there are any differences from known strains.
It will also be tested against available menB vaccines, though experts stressed people should get a jab if eligible.