College student hit by meningitis in case 'not linked to outbreak'

St John Rigby College, in Orrell, has written to parents and carers about a 'suspected meningococcal case' affecting one of their students following the deadly ourbreak in Kent that claimed two lives

Another college has said they have a student with a suspected case of meningitis in a new episode reportedly not linked to the outbreak in Kent.

St John Rigby College, in Orrell, has warned parents and carers that a student has a 'suspected meningococcal case'.

The news comes after a deadly outbreak which began at the University of Kent, was reported to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on 13 March which has claimed the lives of two young people.

The number of confirmed cases in Kent have dropped from 23 to 20 and the number of suspected cases under investigation have also fallen from 11 to nine, according to official reports.

St John Rigby College, in Orrell, Wigan wrote to families on Friday night saying that a suspected meningococcal case had been found among students there.

The college said: “We have been advised by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) that a student who attends this college has recently been reported as a suspected meningococcal case, which we understand will be concerning, especially in light on the ongoing situation in Kent.

“We would like to reassure you that we have acted quickly and there is only one suspected case at the college. Health agencies have completed contact tracing and there is no known connection to the situation in Kent."

“Across England, there is roughly one case of meningitis notified each day. Health professionals are managing the local situation as we would for any other case of meningitis in Wigan.

“All close contacts of this case have been identified already and offered antibiotics as a precaution. No one who has not already been identified and contacted needs antibiotics.

“The risk to students at this time is very low. There is no need for anyone to remain off college or not continue with usual activities.”

The news comes as students in Kent were pictured queuing up to receive vaccines and antibiotics from medical staff in the sports hall at the University of Kent campus in Canterbury.

The number of cases of meningitis linked to an outbreak in Kent has dropped as a campaign to vaccinate thousands of young people continued into a fourth day.

Confirmed cases have fallen from 23 to 20, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said in an update on Sunday morning, after they were downgraded following further testing.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting today said: "'It has been an incredibly difficult week for those affected and for those working on the frontline response to this outbreak.

"As we look ahead to another challenging week, I wanted to pay tribute to the Herculean efforts of everyone who has worked tirelessly to care for those affected and keep people safe."