Canterbury meningitis outbreak prompts vaccination push and policy review
TL;DR
An explosive outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease linked to Canterbury’s Club Chemistry has reached 20 cases and two deaths as of 17 March, with the MenB strain confirmed. Health officials have launched antibiotics distribution and a targeted MenB vaccination program for University of Kent students living in halls, and JCVI may be asked to re-examine Teen MenB vaccination eligibility. UKHSA notes MenB accounts for about 80% of recent UK cases, and experts say the Canterbury outbreak’s pace and scale are unprecedented.
- What is behind the UK’s meningitis outbreak and how serious is it? The Guardian
- What to Know about the Meningitis Outbreak in Britain The New York Times
- Meningitis takes the young. That is why we are all panicking The Telegraph
- Number of meningitis cases investigated in Kent rises to 20 The Guardian
- Cases of invasive meningococcal disease notified in Kent GOV.UK
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