Meningitis cases rise to 29 though overall rate slows

Latest UK Health Security Agency update comes after hundreds of students in Kent were turned away for vaccines against the killer MenB bug after daily stock ran out

The number of meningitis cases has risen again, new figures just released by the UK Health Security Agency show.

Yesterday, the number of confirmed cases stood at 15, with a further 12 under investigation - giving a total of 27 suspected cases overall. The UKHSA now says that, as of 12.30pm yesterday, 18 laboratory cases are confirmed and 11 cases remain under investigation - giving a total of 29 suspected cases overall.

This means while the number of cases has gone up, the rate of the spread has slowed. Thirteen of the 18 confirmed cases are meningococcal group B (MenB), it adds.

A further seven cases were announced yesterday, bringing the number in hospital to 27. One student and a sixth former have died in Canterbury, Kent.

Two young people have died during the outbreak: Juliette Kenny, 18, who was studying for her A-levels, and a University of Kent student aged 21. The number of cases is expected to rise as the incubation period from infection to when symptoms appear is two to 14 days.

It comes after it emerged an infected patient may have returned to the nightclub at the centre of the outbreak. Health officials say one person who is now thought to have the disease went back to Club Chemistry for a second visit - potentially infecting other clubbers.

Juliette’s father, Michael, said she died on Saturday just one day after showing symptoms of vomiting and discolouration in her cheeks. He said: “Juliette is a force in this world. The devastation of her loss to us, her family and friends is immeasurable."

He first became aware that his daughter was ill when she vomited in the early hours of last Friday. Juliette, a year 13 student at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham, exhibited no other symptoms at that time.

Michael said: “In the morning on Friday, she was taken by us to our local emergency drop-in as a discolouration appeared on her cheeks. She was given antibiotics and sent by ambulance to A&E. Juliette fought bravely for hours, but despite the fantastic NHS hospital staff fighting alongside her, meningitis took her from us less than 12 hours later. We were with her at the end, and the last sounds that she heard were the voices of those who loved her.”

Along with the Meningitis Research Foundation, Mr Kenny and his family want the UK to take urgent action to improve access to the menB vaccination for teenagers and young people. 'No family should experience this pain and tragedy,' he added.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has asked the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to consider expanding the availability of the MenB jab to young people over 15 who would have missed the childhood vaccination programme now offering it to children under two.

Separately, a targeted MenB vaccination drive is in place for young people linked to the Club Chemistry “super spreader” event in Canterbury, and after parties at Kent University halls of residence.

However students were being turned away on Thursday while trying to get the meningitis vaccine due to high demand. The University of Kent announced it had closed the service at its Canterbury campus due to capacity, hours after it confirmed suspected cases had risen to 27.

Hundreds of people were turned away after more than 1,500 people received available vaccine stocks over two days. The government said 20,000 vaccines will be released from NHS supplies within 48 hours for pharmacies to sell.

Wes Streeting visited a Kent vaccination centre on Thursday. He said: "We've seen a really, really brilliant response here, the way in which the NHS team has mobilised so quickly, they've done a great job. We're expanding the availability of the vaccine today, too, so we should expect to see more people coming through."

Local healthcare partnership the Kent and Medway Integrated Care System said that 8,559 antibiotics had been handed out. Two new vaccination centres will also be open in Kent on Friday, one in Faversham and another in Ashford.