The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)
I am updating the House on the ongoing outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease in Kent. My heartfelt condolences go to the families of the two young people who have sadly died, and my sympathies are with all those who remain in hospital. This is a distressing time for many.
I would like to pay tribute to frontline staff in Kent, across the NHS and in the UK Health Security Agency for their rapid and professional response to this unprecedented outbreak. While individual cases of meningococcal group B disease are not uncommon, an outbreak of this scale is highly unusual, which is why additional measures are being taken.
As of 5 pm on 22 March, a total of 29 cases of invasive meningococcal disease have been identified, comprising 20 confirmed and nine probable cases. Of the confirmed cases, 19 have been confirmed as being meningococcal group B—or MenB—and one is awaiting serogrouping. Some cases might be confirmed or downgraded in the coming days. UKHSA is reviewing the relevant results with hospital clinicians and is communicating with patients.
The outbreak remains geographically localised and the risk to the wider population continues to be low. All cases to date have links to Canterbury. Sixteen cases—confirmed and probable—are higher education students, including 13 from the University of Kent and two from Canterbury Christchurch University. Three confirmed cases are associated with three secondary schools in Kent. Twenty-two cases are known to have attended Club Chemistry in Canterbury, which remains closed. UKHSA continues active contact tracing to identify individuals at increased risk.
From the outset, local NHS teams and national public health experts have been working closely with businesses, universities, schools and colleges to protect students, families and the wider community. Clear advice on symptoms and when to seek medical attention has been provided, and frontline clinicians have been alerted to ensure early recognition of cases.
A single course of antibiotics is highly effective at reducing transmission. Immediately after the outbreak was identified, UKHSA deployed 50,000 doses of stockpiled antibiotics to the local area to ensure rapid access for those at highest risk. As of 5 pm on 22 March, 12,837 doses of antibiotics had been administered.
Although preventive antibiotics remain the primary tool to control the outbreak, targeted meningitis B vaccination has also been introduced to provide longer-term protection for students and young people in the area. Vaccination is being offered to all those who have received preventive antibiotics, and to years 12 and 13 students in schools and colleges in Kent where confirmed or probable cases have been identified. Further use in other age groups or settings may be recommended following individualised risk assessments with affected settings.
Anyone who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury between 5 and 15 March has been offered a vaccine and antibiotics as a precaution, after a suspected case revisited the venue shortly before it closed voluntarily. This extension ensures that those most likely to have been exposed are provided with protection as early as possible. Details of vaccination sites are available on the NHS Kent and Medway integrated care system website.
As of 5 pm on 22 March, 9,611 vaccinations had been administered to those at highest risk. I strongly encourage all eligible individuals to take up this offer.
Recognising the anxiety felt by many parents and young people, 20,000 doses of the vaccine have been released to the private market by GSK to ease the pressure on local pharmacy supplies.
Routine vaccination programmes, including the UK’s infant meningitis B programme, are determined by the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisations, which assesses evidence on clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, safety and population impact. As I told the House on 17 March, in the context of the current meningococcal disease outbreak, I have asked the JCVI to re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines to assess, for example, an expanded offer to older children and/or young adults. The JCVI will provide updated advice to the Department on whether, and to what extent, a vaccine programme for older children and/or young adults would be clinically effective as well as an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of such a vaccination programme.
UKHSA continues to support education settings, working closely with the Department for Education. All affected education settings remain open. Children and young people should attend their education setting normally, unless specifically told otherwise by a health professional. Attendance supports the education, health and wellbeing of children and young people.
As part of the investigation, UKHSA laboratories have completed initial genetic analysis of a meningococcal strain isolated during this outbreak. Results confirm that the Bexsero vaccine currently being offered should provide protection. The strain belongs to a group of bacteria known as group B meningococci, sequence type 485 belonging to the larger clonal complex ST-41-44. Similar strains have been circulating in the UK for around five years, but further detailed analysis on this strain is occurring with academic experts. UKHSA has published the genome data to support wider national and international research.
Meningococcal disease is a serious illness that can cause meningitis, which is an inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain, and sepsis—blood poisoning.
Symptoms include a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass, sudden high fever, severe or worsening headache, stiff neck, vomiting or diarrhoea, joint or muscle pain, dislike of bright lights, cold hands and feet, seizures, confusion or delirium, and sleepiness or difficulty waking. The onset can be extremely rapid. Anyone experiencing symptoms should urgently seek medical attention. Early treatment saves lives.
I want to thank everyone who has worked tirelessly to care for those affected and keep people safe. To the UKHSA and other public health officials working to contain the outbreak. The NHS team who stood up a vaccination programme within one day of it being announced, distributed antibiotics, and those caring for young patients in hospital. The school, college and university staff keeping students and parents informed, helping young people through the distress of this outbreak, and keeping their education going. And the thousands of students, pupils, and other members of the public who have so readily and responsibly come forward for antibiotics and vaccination.
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