The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has pinpointed the strain of meningitis responsible for the recent fatal outbreak in Kent.
The infections have been identified as MenB, a severe bacterial form of meningitis that can lead to brain and spinal cord inflammation.
In Kent, three schools have reported cases of the illness following the outbreak that claimed the lives of two students, with others hospitalized.
One of the deceased individuals was Juliette Kenny, a year 13 student at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham, described as “incredibly kind, thoughtful, and intelligent” by her headteacher. The second fatality was a student from the University of Kent, with some hospitalized individuals reportedly placed in induced comas.
UKHSA disclosed that since March 13, 13 cases, including the two fatalities, have been reported, prompting ongoing investigations into the meningitis outbreak.
Individuals who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury on March 5, 6, or 7 are urged to seek antibiotics as a precautionary measure due to potential exposure to the infection. The club’s owner estimated that over 2,000 people attended the venue during those dates.
Trish Mannes, UKHSA’s regional deputy director for the South East, expressed condolences to those impacted by the tragic events, emphasizing the importance of seeking preventive antibiotic treatment for anyone who visited Club Chemistry or received antibiotics at the university during the specified period.
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