School Student Is Second Person To Die From Kent Meningitis Outbreak, Says Mp

A schoolhouse pupil has been confirmed arsenic nan 2nd personification to person died aft an outbreak of meningitis successful Kent, an MP has said.

Over nan play it was reported that a University of Kent student was 1 of 2 group to person died aft contracting nan disease, while 11 much group were earnestly sick successful hospital.

On Monday, Helen Whately, nan MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, said: “The meningitis outbreak successful our area is simply a immense shock. Feeling truthful profoundly sad for nan young lives mislaid – a twelvemonth 13 pupil astatine QEGS [Queen Elizabeth’s grammar school] and a uni of Kent student. My bosom goes retired to their families.”

In a station connected Facebook, she added: “It’s incredibly worrying excessively for nan families of nan young group successful hospital, and others astatine risk. I americium asking nan NHS urgently for much accusation and guidance, particularly fixed nan rumours going information astir wherever they whitethorn person picked it up.”

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it had provided antibiotics to students successful nan Canterbury area aft it detected 13 cases of invasive meningococcal disease; a operation of meningitis and septicaemia.

The fast-acting illness is caused by meningococcal germs spreading to nan fluid surrounding nan encephalon and spinal cord, which causes meningitis, and infecting nan bloodstream, which causes sepsis.

The UKHSA said anyone pinch meningitis and septicaemia symptoms should activity aesculapian thief urgently, and that it could thief prevention lives.

Symptoms see rashes, a abrupt fever, terrible headaches, a stiff neck, vomiting and diarrhoea, associated and musculus pain, sensitivity to agleam lights, acold hands and feet, seizures, disorder and utmost sleepiness.

UKHSA specialists person been interviewing nan families of those affected to place adjacent contacts and to put antibiotics. The circumstantial strain of nan illness has not been identified.

Trish Mannes, UKHSA’s south-east lawman director, said: “We understand that galore group astatine nan assemblage and successful nan wider organization will beryllium affected by this sad news and we would for illustration to connection our condolences to nan friends and family involved.

“Meningococcal illness tin advancement rapidly, truthful it’s basal that students and unit are alert to nan signs and symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia.”

She added: “Students are peculiarly astatine consequence of missing nan early informing signs of meningitis because they tin beryllium easy confused pinch different illnesses specified arsenic a bad cold, flu aliases moreover a hangover.”

She said checking connected a friend if they spell to furniture unwell, and seeking aesculapian help, “could prevention their life”.