News brief

Two students are dead and 11 are hospitalized after an outbreak of a rare form of invasive meningitis at the University of Kent in England. 

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) provided prophylactic antibiotics to students in the area after it detected 13 cases of invasive meningococcal disease, a combination of meningitis and septicemia, or blood poisoning. 

“Meningococcal disease can progress rapidly, so it’s essential that students and staff are alert to the signs and symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, which can include a fever, headache, rapid breathing, drowsiness, shivering, vomiting and cold hands and feet. Septicaemia can also cause a characteristic rash that does not fade when pressed against a glass,” said Trish Mannes, MSc, UKHSA regional deputy director for the South East, in the news release. 

Students are particularly at risk of missing the early warning signs of meningitis.

“Students are particularly at risk of missing the early warning signs of meningitis because they can be easily confused with other illnesses such as a bad cold, flu or even a hangover,” she added.

The UKHSA said the strain of meningococcal bacteria in this outbreak has yet to be identified. 

College campuses and universities have historically been sites of meningitis outbreaks because of close living quarters.