There are “various plans in place” in Nottinghamshire after a deadly meningitis outbreak in the south of England.
On 13 March, the first case of invasive meningitis was confirmed in Kent, and two days later it was reported that a University of Kent student and a school pupil in Faversham had died.
It is believed a super-spreader event could have occurred at Club Chemistry, a nightclub in Canterbury.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says there are now a total of 29 confirmed or probable cases as of Friday (20 March).
Health officials in Kent are considering a number of potential scenarios for the outbreak, including that it stays in Kent, or that some people who were incubating it have left, leading to some household clusters outside the county.
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According to reports, they say “some sporadic household cases outside of Kent” could occur.
Thousands of vaccines and antibiotics have now been administered and distributed.
Concern about wider cases outside Kent was raised at a Nottingham City Council health scrutiny committee meeting on Thursday (19 March).
Sabrina Taylor, chief executive of Healthwatch Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, said: “I was just wondering about the recent outbreak of meningitis, and obviously the pressures that might put on planning.
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“I was just wondering if there were any plans we were putting into place around that concern?”
The Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB, the NHS organisation responsible for planning, commissioning, and managing local health services, provided a response.
Gemma Whysall, the ICB’s director of commissioning, said: “In 2015, they rolled out the meningitis B vaccination to all children. I know my children were vaccinated.
“So we have various plans in place, working with the directors of public health and the emergency planners. Nationally, NHS England is connecting with everyone to ensure we have plans in place.”
The strain belongs to a group of bacteria known as group B meningococci and is referred to as MenB.
Meera Chand, strategic response director for the UKHSA, said: “The latest laboratory analysis by UKHSA confirms that the vaccine being offered to students and other eligible groups should cover this circulating strain of MenB, with further analysis ongoing to understand more about the strain.
“It’s vital that people are aware of the signs and symptoms of invasive meningococcal disease and seek immediate medical attention if they or anyone they know develops symptoms. The risk to the wider population remains low, and UKHSA continues to work with partners to identify contacts and offer necessary treatment.”
Early symptoms, which may not always be present, include:
A rash that doesn’t fade when pressed with a glass
Sudden onset of high fever
Severe and worsening headache
Stiff neck
Vomiting and diarrhoea
Joint and muscle pain
Dislike of bright lights
Very cold hands and feet
Seizures
Confusion/delirium
Extreme sleepiness/difficulty waking
