health
No new meningitis cases linked to Kent outbreak found, health agency says
UKHSA reports 29 cases, the same figure as on Sunday, raising hopes the outbreak has been well contained
TL;DR
- No new meningitis cases linked to the Kent outbreak have been detected.
- The total number of cases remains at 29 (20 confirmed, 9 probable), the largest outbreak in the UK in a generation.
- Two deaths have been confirmed: Juliette Kenny, 18, and an unnamed University of Kent student.
- Nineteen of the 20 confirmed cases were meningitis B.
- The outbreak is linked to the Chemistry nightclub in Canterbury attended on March 5, 6, and 7.
- Prompt provision of antibiotics and vaccines, along with contact tracing, is credited with helping to contain the outbreak.
- 13,088 doses of antibiotics and 10,081 vaccines against meningitis B have been administered.
- Health officials are optimistic but acknowledge the outbreak is not yet over.
- The limited contagiousness of MenB and voluntary reduction in socialising also contributed to containment.