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.