Meningitis – Sporadic clusters could appear elsewhere in UK

Kent County Council director of public health Dr Anjan Ghosh said the spread is linked to the movement of people away from Kent.

He told a briefing three scenarios were being looked at over the next four weeks, with the most likely being that students who have travelled away from Kent will “incubate” the bug and there could be “household” cases elsewhere.

He added that these cases would be “containable”.

What is meningitis? The key symptoms to look out for

It comes as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the number of cases linked to the outbreak has reached 29, up from 27 previously.

Some 18 cases have been confirmed, alongside a further 11 “probable cases” – all with links to Kent, the UKHSA said.

Dr Ghosh told the briefing that three “rough” scenarios are being modelled for the next four weeks, as “that’s the time it takes for this whole thing really subside”.

The first scenario is that the outbreak remains contained in Kent.

“Second scenario is that there are people who’ve left, they’ve gone off campus, and many of them don’t stay in Kent, they go and stay elsewhere,” Dr Ghosh said.

“They were incubating when they left, and then they become cases, and there are small household, sporadic clusters outside of Kent.”

He stressed these cases would be “containable”.

The third scenario, described by Dr Ghosh as the “worst-case scenario”, would result in another cluster outside of Kent.

However, he said this is “highly unlikely”, with the second scenario “most likely to be the case”.

How to check your vaccination record on the NHS app

• Go to The NHS App
• Open the GP Health Record tab – read and click through the security warning
• Open the Immunisations tab
• Scroll down through your list of vaccines and related information

If you do not see a meningitis vaccination, that does not mean you have not already had one. There are a number of reasons why the NHS app may not have all your immunisations records, including:

• Old records – vaccinations from many years ago may not be recorded on the app
• Overseas jabs – vaccinations received abroad are not automatically added to the app
• GP record gap – if your doctor has not updated their records, there will be a gap in the app
• Access rights – you may need to ask your GP to enable your ‘detailed coded record’

Your GP or a pharmacist will be able to see your full NHS Summary Care Records (SCR), so if in doubt speak to one of them.

Meningitis symptoms

• a high temperature
• cold hands and feet
• vomiting
• confusion
• breathing quickly
• muscle and joint pain
• pale, mottled or blotchy skin (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)
• spots or a rash (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)
• headache
• a stiff neck
• a dislike of bright lights
• being very sleepy or difficult to wake
• fits (seizures)

And in babies:

• refuse feeds
• be irritable
• have a high-pitched cry
• have a stiff body or be floppy or unresponsive
• have a bulging soft spot on the top of their head

Different types of meningitis 

Viral

• Viral meningitis  is the most common form. It is rarely life-threatening but can still cause serious illness. It tends to resolve on its own, though can leave infected feeling very unwell during recovery.
• Mollaret’s meningitis  is a rare and recurring form of the disease. Mollaret’s is a chronic condition, most often linked to infection with the Herpes Simplex virus type 2. 

Bacterial

• Bacterial meningitis  is a serious and fast-moving condition that requires urgent hospital admission and prompt treatment with antibiotics to prevent life-threatening complications.
• Meningococcal disease.  This term covers two major illnesses, meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning), which can occur independently but more often together, making it especially dangerous.
• Pneumococcal meningitis  is a life-threatening infection that causes inflammation of the protective layers around the brain and spinal cord, it requires swift medical intervention.
• TB meningitis  is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. This form of the disease is linked to tuberculosis and can be difficult to diagnose due to its gradual onset.
• Group B streptococcal (GBS) meningitis  is the leading cause of meningitis in babies, and can cause septicaemia and pneumonia, making it a significant concern in newborns.
• Neonatal meningitis  affects newborns and is divided into “early onset” and “late onset”, depending on how soon after birth the condition develops.
• E. coli meningitis  is the second most common bacterial cause of meningitis in newborns. E. coli meningitis is a serious condition primarily affecting the very young.
• Hib meningitis  is like pneumococcal meningitis, and is a life-threatening disease causing inflammation around the brain and spinal cord – though it has become much less common due to vaccination.
• Listeria meningitis  is caused by Listeria bacteria found in certain foods like unpasteurised soft cheeses, pâté, and shellfish. This form can lead to potentially fatal complications.

Other  

• Fungal meningitis  is a very rare form of the disease and shares similar symptoms but typically develops more gradually rather than suddenly.
• Chemical meningitis  is unlike most other forms because it is not caused by an infection. Instead, it is triggered by exposure to a particular substance or chemical that causes inflammation.
• Parasitic meningitis  is extremely rare and occurs when certain parasites infect and inflame the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
• Cryptococcal meningitis  is caused by a fungus found in soil and bird droppings, and is most commonly seen in people with weakened immune systems.
• Non-infectious meningitis.  Not all meningitis is the result of an infection; this variety is triggered by non-infectious causes like certain medications or other medical conditions.
• Malignant/carcinomatous meningitis  is a serious condition when cancer cells spread to the meninges. It is associated with advanced cancer and presents significant treatment challenges.