Meningitis B vaccine scheme widened to include some year 11 pupils in Kent | Meningitis

The meningitis B vaccination program will be expanded to include year 11 pupils from schools affected by the outbreak in Kent, health officials have announced.

Figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show the number of meningitis cases fell from 29 on Sunday, when 20 cases were confirmed and a further nine were under investigation, to 20 confirmed cases and three more under investigation, as of 12.30pm on Monday.

Authorities began vaccinating students at the University of Kent on Wednesday, March 18. The following day, during a visit to campus, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the program would be extended to more people, including sixth-graders from four schools with known or suspected cases of MenB.

The UKHSA has now confirmed that ministers have agreed to offer vaccines to year 11 pupils in these schools. Officials said expanding the program was a precautionary measure to ensure long-term protection.

The Guardian understands that to date, more than 13,000 doses of antibiotics and more than 10,000 doses of vaccine have been administered in response to the outbreak.

The news comes as the UKHSA published a technical report including a preliminary analysis of the outbreak. This reveals that the first known case of the outbreak fell ill on March 9, with the most recent falling ill on March 16.

The peak of the outbreak, with the highest number of cases reporting illness onset in a single day, occurred on March 13, the report noted. All cases were admitted to hospital, with nine reportedly taken to intensive care.

The two students who died were Juliette Kenny, 18, described by her family as “fit, healthy and strong” before her death, and a University of Kent student. The report found that the median age of cases in the outbreak is 19, and 18 of the 23 cases are students.

“So far, the majority of outbreak cases have an epidemiological link to a Canterbury club,” the report added, noting that 20 of the 23 people attended Club Chemistry at least once before becoming ill.

Experts stressed that it was not surprising to see an outbreak among young adults, and the report noted that the risk of meningococcal disease is estimated to be 11 times higher among university students than among non-students of the same age.

However, the report confirms that the outbreak in Kent is of an unusual scale and pace. This, he adds, is likely due to a combination of three factors: the nature of the bacterial strain involved, population immunity levels, and social and environmental factors.

The Guardian understands that, for one of the cases, the entire genome of the bacteria involved was sequenced. The results reveal that the strain causing the Kent outbreak belongs to a group of bacteria known as group B meningococci, but is a new variant of a subtype that has been present in England since 2020. The UKHSA added that this strain responds to MenB antibiotics and vaccines.

Work is underway to determine whether the multiple genetic differences in the outbreak strain could affect its biology, for example by increasing its transmissibility or its potential to cause disease.

The Guardian understands that experts are also studying viruses that may have co-circulated among affected young people. This is because viral infections that damage the lining of the nose and throat can make it easier for bacteria to penetrate and enter the bloodstream, leading to meningococcal disease.

Additionally, the report states that studies are underway to assess susceptibility to the MenB epidemic strain, with initial work focused on young people aged 15 to 22.

The report adds that the level of transmission is now considered to be at level 1.1 – this means there is a known cluster with a small number of directly linked cases. All of these infections were contracted in Kent.

However, the report adds that it is very likely that over the next four weeks cases of infection will be acquired outside of Kent.

Dr Merav Kliner, incident director at UKHSA, said while antibiotics and vaccines had been offered to contacts of cases who may be at increased risk of infection, contacts should be vigilant for symptoms.

“A reminder that we also see more than 350 cases of meningococcal infection each year across the country. This is why it is important for everyone to remain aware of the signs and symptoms of infection and seek prompt medical attention if they are concerned,” she added.