Students at the University of Kent in the United Kingdom are calling for a shutdown in response to an active meningitis outbreak. As of March 18, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced a total of 15 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease, 12 additional potential cases, and two deaths in Kent, a county in the southeast of England.
Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis that can cause meningitis, infecting the brain and spinal cord lining, or septicemia, a bloodstream infection that can lead to sepsis. Even with prompt treatment, meningococcal disease can become fatal within hours. Health agencies report a typical fatality rate of about 10 to 15 percent.
Students launched an online petition calling for campus closure, stating: “Students at the University of Kent are increasingly concerned about reports of meningitis and sepsis cases affecting members of the campus community. The confirmation of two deaths, along with reports of hospitalizations, has caused understandable concern among students and staff.” The petition expressed concern that in-person exams, lectures and other campus activities are continuing amid the outbreak. Students expressed they feel “forced to choose between protecting their well-being and continuing their education.”
In response to the outbreak, preventative antibiotic treatment is being distributed to University of Kent students and those who visited Club Chemistry, a nightclub in Canterbury, between March 5 and March 7. UKHSA noted a vaccination program has started for students and staff living in or working in the halls at the University of Kent Canterbury Campus—approximately 5,000 students. Symptoms of meningococcal disease include fever, stiff neck, headache, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or altered mental status, or a dark purple rash. Those with symptoms should see their primary care physician immediately, as the disease can progress within hours and antibiotics must be initiated promptly.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.foxnews.com/health/deadly-meningitis-outbreak-prompts-college-students-call-campus-shutdown