Meningitis Outbreak in Reading, UK
A tragic meningitis outbreak has recently been reported in the university town of Reading, Berkshire, resulting in the death of one young person and two others currently receiving treatment. This development has raised concerns among local health officials and the community.
The cases have been linked to a cluster of infections that are described as ‘very unusual’ by health authorities. They are investigating whether meningitis has become more transmissible, especially following a major outbreak of meningitis B in March that led to the deaths of two young people and over a dozen hospitalizations. The previous cases were associated with a nightclub in Canterbury.
The latest fatality in the Reading outbreak was a student at Henley College in Oxfordshire, according to a GP surgery. While the University of Reading has not reported any cases among its students, it has advised individuals to remain vigilant.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Hart Surgery in Henley-on-Thames said:
‘We have been in contact with the UK Health Security Agency this morning (May 14) regarding the very sad news that a student at Henley College has died with suspected meningococcal disease.
They have confirmed that they are actively contacting those who may be at risk due to a close association with the student involved.
If you have not been contacted by the UK Health Security Agency, then currently you do not require any treatment. Staff and students have been advised they can attend the college as usual.
The number of confirmed cases is very low so there are currently no plans for a local emergency meningitis vaccination programme.’
Close contacts of the cases in Reading are being offered antibiotics as a precaution, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said, before adding that the risk to the public was ‘low’. So far, one case has been confirmed as the meningitis B strain found in Kent, while the other two cases are awaiting test results.
In a statement today, the UKHSA said that its specialists were ‘working with local authority and NHS partners following three cases of meningococcal infection (meningitis) in young people in Reading’.
Dr Rachel Mearkle, consultant in health protection at Public Health England, added:
‘We understand that many people will be affected by this sad news and would like to offer our condolences to the friends and family of this student.
Students and staff will naturally be feeling worried about the likelihood of further cases, however meningococcal meningitis requires very close contact to spread and large outbreaks as we saw in Kent recently, are thankfully rare.
We are working closely with partners and have provided public health advice and precautionary antibiotic treatment to close contacts of the cases. Meningococcal disease does not spread easily and the risk to the wider public remains low.
Anyone can get meningitis, and around 300 to 400 cases of meningococcal disease are diagnosed in England every year.
It’s most common in babies, young children, teenagers, and young adults.
It needs to be treated quickly so it is important to know the signs and symptoms. They can appear in any order and may not all be present, so seek rapid medical attention if there is ever any concern.
Signs and symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and sepsis can include a fever, headache, rapid breathing, drowsiness, shivering, vomiting and cold hands and feet. Sepsis can also cause a characteristic rash that does not fade when pressed against a glass.’
Chief executive of UK charity Meningitis Now, Dr Tom Nutt, said:
‘Everyone at Meningitis Now is deeply saddened and concerned to hear reports of a suspected outbreak of meningitis affecting young people in Reading and the surrounding area, including the tragic death of a young person.
We would urge people to remain vigilant and aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease.
Meningitis can become life-threatening very quickly and early diagnosis and treatment are absolutely vital.’
According to Dr Nutt, symptoms can appear in ‘any order’ and may include a high temperature, severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, confusion, drowsiness, cold hands and feet, severe muscle pain, and a rash that does not fade under pressure.
‘Teenagers and young adults are among the groups most at risk from meningococcal disease, and the recent outbreak in Kent has shown how quickly cases can emerge,’ he added.
In March, hundreds of people were given the MenB vaccine or antibiotics to stem the spread of meningitis in the Kent outbreak.
