Meningitis outbreak

[Flipitoff]

I’m freaking out a bit

DD has been here all day after travelling from uni yesterday. Her housemate is really poorly and now I’ve just seen the news about the meningitis outbreak at her uni.

Her housemate is in the house on her own now - I’ve told DD to call the uni and let them know. Worried that DD has been here with us all day in case she gets sick

What type of Meningitis is it spreading at the Kent Uni? Doesn't seem to say anywhere this surely is key

Isn't Men B only (generally) serious in small children hence being given to babies not teens?

I know. But it weakens your contribution as it comes across like a tantrum.

Different vaccines for different strains - main ones are A, B, C, W, X and Y. These are bacterial infections. You can also get a form of meningitis from other bacteria such as pneumococcus (vaccine available).

no specific vaccine for viral meningitis- but vaccines for the main causes eg MMR and now varicella (chickenpox) hence the new MMRV vaccine

Wouldn’t be considered cost effective for the NHS to vaccinate older children for MenB as it is usually a mild illness in them.

Who knows though if such an unexpected outbreak may change thinking ie if increasing evidence that it is moving towards serious illness in older DC or if this is a very unfortunate one-off

I have daughters in two different universities and both know of students who have been hospitalised or died due to Meningitis B. I got them vaccinated before starting Uni but most people don’t realise that B isn’t included as part of the NHS vaccine. I really hope this gets changed.

It doesn't, it's a point we'll made which can easily be lost in a long thread.

Which uni? Uni of Kent?

This morning it has been revealed that one of the two people who has died was a year 13 student at a local Grammar school. It also seems the outbreak was probably caused at a nightclub. So the most at risk are young people who go night clubbing and live in halls at uni, but 18 year olds still at home but going to night clubs are also at high risk.

The outbreak could be cause by a new strain it is now being reported.

Its not specific to the university. One of the two young people who have died wasca ywar 13 student at a local grammar school. A nightclub is the most likely place of the spread because a number of those now in hospital attened an event there. Obviously university students do not have a monopoly on nightclubbing so maybe the attention should be all thosevwho frequent that particular establishment.

No. There is no vaccine for viral meningitis but it is a less severe illness than bacterial. And for the anti-vaxxers out there - there is NO herd immunity for bacterial meningitis - too many different strains.

Having had it myself as a teen - it's very scary. BUT no one else I was with - no family or friends caught it at the same time...

The main tell tale symptom I had was very stiff neck - the test is to see if they can put their chin on their chest.

No.

It is a very serious illness in all age groups. Infants and teenagers are the most susceptible.

Michael Rosen's own son died of meningitis. He has written extremely moving about this is his recent book.

It didn't to me.

The PP was responding to the constant reiterations of the same (wrong) information.

Our local news (Kent) printed halls that were affected n any one been in contact to take A/B

This is quite terrifying I am devastated to hear of these deaths.

As a parent to young teens my instinct is to book these private vaccinations asap but is it better to wait until close to uni time?

I worry about my ability to differentiate between a serious illness like this and just a sore head or something.

In this case sixth formers at local schools are also being contacted. If young people are attending events at nightclubs or similar thry are at risk. Waiting until they are about to go to uni nay be too late

How long does protection last for?

The duration of protection following the
recommended routine Bexsero® schedule has
not been established, although in reviewing
all of the available evidence, the JCVI agreed
the most plausible duration of protection is 18
months following a two dose primary course and36 months following the additional booster dose
administered at 12 months. Bexsero® should,
therefore, protect infants and toddlers during their
period of highest risk of meningococcal B infection.

I’ve got a year 11 with prom coming up in a few months. I paid for the Men B vaccine when he was around 4 years old but thinking about getting it repeated now.

Meningitis vaccines are offered to everyone starting uni - surely you had her get it then? During Freshers week?

Nothing like that happening for my children yet. I don’t want to get it now and protection has waned by uni age though. Will need to do some research.

https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/2024-10/MenB%20factsheet%20FINAL.pdf

I can't share the document I have but this says the same.

So children that had the injection as part of the schedule will not be covered when they get to uni.

But there is a Men B vaccination programme - it started in 2015. So that PP’s point was technically incorrect.