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

That PP was saying there is no MenB vaccination programme- there actually is - it started in 2015.

ok so too late for this group, but a programme does exist. And it is given to younger DC as they are the ones most at risk from this strain. Older DC get the ACWY vaccine at around age 14 as those are the strains generally more dangerous to that group.

My son was born 2012 and I paid for it privately when he was a toddler

They are not. Mum of two daughters who have gone to uni recently and not been offered it.

The problem with Meningitis is its mode of infection. It’s generally passed on by close contact, the bacteria are often normal commensals in a percentage of the population who act like carriers. The bacteria are opportunists so take advantage of a simple sore throat or a weakened immune system.
Although young and healthy, uni students are far more sociable than older adults, frequently in situations where prolonged physical close contact necessary for transmission arises. basically sharing living spaces, bathrooms and snogging.

My step brother picked up menB at a New Year’s Eve party late 1990s. He had a sore throat and mild cold at the time which probably provided the perfect conditions for infection. He was very ill and it was only the rapid action and advocacy of his mum that he was treated quickly. He was on a ventilator for 2 weeks and had to have 12 months of rehab to learn how to talk and walk again. He is now a successful solicitor with a family of his own.

My niece was diagnosed aged 13 months. Her presentation was frighteningly rapid. Symptoms started in the morning, she was grumpy and hot, by the evening her limbs were covered in the classic non blanching rash. It is quite distinctive in that the spots are quite large and irregular in shape. Again my DSis recognised it instantly and on arrival at the local A&E the doctor immediately started her on IV antibiotics before taking a full history. As a result of the meningitis they discovered an underlying congenital heart murmur that had gone undiagnosed at previous health checks. It may have been a modifying factor making her more susceptible to infection. They had been at a big family celebration which possibly exposed her to the infection. It was the speed at which it developed that surprised us all.

I regularly drill my DS (21) uni student on Meningitis protocol. If he is ill I ask him to let me know, then to make sure his flatmates know and to ask them to check on him regularly. If they can’t rouse him then it’s 111 or 999. This applies to his flatmates if they are not well. One of his friends has a cousin locally who is a doctor so she can advise if necessary.

Meningitis Now provide really good material that unis often include in their welcome packs. They often get binned by I made sure that I pinned it on DS’s notice board when he moved into halls.
I will be suggesting he has the vaccination but he’s an adult and will have to make up his own mind.
You can access the information packs for students via Meningitis Now to pass on to you child. https://www.meningitisnow.org/meningitis-now-stories/news-centre/news/students-encouraged-to-sound-the-alarm-about-meningitis/

The men ACWY is offered to all young people (not just uni students) and they can have it up to the age of 25yrs.
It's offered in year 9.
I would imagine some uni GPs check vaccination status and offer catch ups including at frsshers fairs but not all universities will. But if asked a GP should vaccinate anyone who has missed the men acwy

Is it? I’m pretty sure none of my teens were offered it in year nine? The only vaccines I remember them having in high school were the cervical cancer ones and Covid ? Is it area dependent ? Vaccine status says men c, but not acwy?

Did they sign up to the uni GP? Its asked as one of the questions and offered by them.

2015 was the first year it was offered in year 9.
Hpv (more than cervical cancer) is year 8
Men acwy and the 3 in 1 teenage booster is year 9
Not area dependent and if they are under 25 they can catch up via the gp

Yes interestingly they don’t do the Men B jab for babies in the US unless they are in the high risk category but much more common for teens. My DD’s pediatrician advised that any of her patients who were thinking of going to Uni have it when they were around 17. As pp said it is on the required vaccination list for lots of Unis over here

Thanks - I've typed that into the Bexsero site and it didn't give an answer.

If it's just the internet giving the five year protection, I'd want something more reliable like an academic paper

When I approached my GP the last time for advice she was enthusiastic about having him vaccinated privately.

The five year timeline seems to come from 'Biology Insights' which seemed doubtful about it being that long and just said studies were ongoing. GPs might know more - I wouldn't trust that website.

Just to add we are a family of HCPs so are vigilant, however I did miss the deterioration of my DS when he had chicken pox. He ended up in hospital with suspected meningitis. I thought that it was just the pox, he had a lot of spots so the rash he was developing was camouflaged by the pox. Fortunately antivirals are really effective on the chickenpox virus and he recovered rapidly.
Viral meningitis is a complication of chicken pox but is very rare so I just didn’t consider it.
It was a wake up call and I no longer dismiss stuff without consulting another HCP.

Being brought up in a family where you have to be on your death bed before anyone takes you seriously can be a problem because you tend to wait far too long before seeking medical help.

I think that it would be prudent of all unis to sort out a rapid response unit to provide prophylaxis and maybe organise vaccination opportunities for students who want to take it up. I think most parents would be happy to fund the vaccinations under the circumstances. Involving the student unions and their volunteers to hand out info reminding students about awareness would help too.

Although this outbreak is isolated to one uni at the moment the spread between unis can happen quickly. DS was at a race day yesterday where students from at least 6 unis attended. He’s also going to Liverpool tomorrow along with a lot of friends from all over the country to celebrate St Patrick’s day. Students spend a lot of weekends visiting friends at other unis, so the potential for spread is in place.

Hopefully the media response and the seriousness will help to drive home the message to students that they need to be vigilant.

I paid for DS (2013 baby) to have it done privately before it was added to the schedule but I’ve just read (Daily Mail so can’t vouch for accuracy) that it only lasts a couple of years so I’ll definitely make sure he has a booster later in his teens.

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

Dame

Both my younger kids have had the men b

Had to pay privately for the older one when she was a kid.

But will probably arrange a booster when in college

Although this outbreak is isolated to one uni at the moment the spread between unis can happen quickly. DS was at a race day yesterday where students from at least 6 unis attended. He’s also going to Liverpool tomorrow along with a lot of friends from all over the country to celebrate St Patrick’s day. Students spend a lot of weekends visiting friends at other unis, so the potential for spread is in place.

well it’s more linked to the local nightclub, so local secondary schools with sixth forms, and any young adults who went clubbing that night. There are also 3 different unis in Canterbury, so the impact is probably much bigger than just uni of Kent. But a week later, and many students have gone home for Mother’s Day weekend, and possibly met up and gone out with their home friends who are also back for the weekend, like the OPs daughter, which could cause spreading.

We’ve had an email from my Yr 12 son’s school (Kent) saying they have a year 13 in hospital with suspected Men B.
I’ve booked a private vaccine for DS for this week. I’m not prone to panic, but this feels like a sensible option. My thoughts go out to the family and friends of the YP who’ve died.

I didn't think mine had either but it seems they added it onto her HPV vax, I called the school medical centre this morning and checked.

I’ve also had an email from my dc’s secondary school (Kent) about cases in the local area.

How long does it take for vaccine to be effective? Have school advised anything?

Again this BBC article is not clear that babies have only been vaccinated since 2015...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7432klgyldo

Men B vaccine is administered in two doses, spaced at least 4 weeks apart. Maximum protection is achieved around two weeks after the second dose.

They’ve said they are taking precautionary steps and will keep parents and students informed. As I understand it, close contacts of confirmed cases will be given ABs.

Do the jabs cause any side effects ?
If someone already had two should they get another two now as older teens or just one