Deadly meningitis outbreak prompts college students to call for campus closure

Students at the University of Kent in the UK are calling for closure due to an active meningitis outbreak.

The lawsuits come after multiple alerts from the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) about the outbreak.

As of March 18, the agency had announced a total of 15 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease, 12 additional potential cases and two deaths in Kent, a county in southeast England. The University of Kent is located in Canterbury, a historic town within Kent.

MEASLES OUTBREAK PRESENTS RISK OF ‘IRREVERSIBLE’ BRAIN DAMAGE, HEALTH OFFICIALS WARN

Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It can cause two life-threatening conditions: meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord lining) and a bloodstream infection called sepsis, which can lead to sepsis, according to the source above.

Even with prompt treatment, meningococcal disease can become fatal within hours. Health agencies report a typical mortality rate of around 10% to 15%.

In response to the outbreak, students at the University of Kent launched an online petition calling for the campus to close.

MEASLES OUTBREAK REACHES A MAJOR SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE CAMPUS

“Students at the University of Kent are increasingly concerned about reports of cases of meningitis and sepsis affecting members of the university community,” states the petition, posted on Change.org. “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 continue amid the outbreak.

“Many students feel they are being placed in a difficult position: attending exams and in-person activities during a period of heightened concern or prioritizing their health and well-being by risking potential academic consequences,” the petition states. “Students should not feel forced to choose between protecting their well-being and continuing their education.”

“Students deserve to feel safe on campus,” the petition concludes. “We therefore ask the University of Kent to consider precautionary measures to prioritize the wellbeing of students and staff during this situation.

MEASLES OUTBREAK EXPLODES IN SOUTH CAROLINA, MULTIPLE HOSPITALIZED AS CASES EXCEED 200

According to UKHSA, preventive antibiotic treatment is being distributed to students at the University of Kent, as well as those who visited Club Chemistry, a nightclub in Canterbury, between March 5 and 7.

“A vaccination program has been launched for students and staff living or working in the halls of the University of Kent’s Canterbury campus – approximately 5,000 students,” the agency said.

News Digital reached out to the university for comment.

Symptoms of meningococcal disease.

Described by the CDC as a “rare but serious disease,” meningococcal disease It most commonly causes symptoms of meningitis, including fever, stiff neck, headache, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, or altered mental status.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

It can also cause meningococcal bloodstream infection, which is characterized by fever and chills, vomiting, fatigue, vomiting, cold hands and feet, severe pain, diarrhea, rapid breathing, or a dark purple rash, the CDC says.

Transmission and treatment

Meningitis infections can be spread through close contact with someone who has meningococcal disease, “usually through things like coughing or kissing, but it can also be spread by being in the same house or room for long periods of time with an infected person,” Dr. Barbara Bawer, a primary care physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, previously told News Digital.

Those who present symptoms of the disease should consult their primary care doctor immediately, according to the doctor.

As symptoms tend to progress rapidly and can be life-threatening, it is essential that the patient receives antibiotics immediately.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“It can become fatal or dangerous very quickly (within hours) for any individual, especially if antibiotics are not started in a timely manner,” Bawer warned. “Even with antibiotics, meningitis can be fatal.”

He added: “This is often due to misdiagnosis, because meningitis can mimic many other diseases.”

Infection prevention

Most cases of meningococcal disease worldwide are caused by six variations of the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis: A, B, C, W, X, and Y.

In the U.S., the most common variations are B, C, W, and Y. Vaccines are available to protect against types A, C, W, and Y (the MenACWY vaccine) and type B (MenB vaccine), according to the CDC.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE News APP

“MenACWY vaccines are routinely recommended for adolescents and people with other risk factors or underlying medical conditions, including HIV,” the agency previously stated.

“Students should not feel forced to choose between protecting their well-being and continuing their education.”

To reduce the risk, Bawer recommends that people get vaccinated with the current meningitis vaccine as recommended by the CDC and avoid being in very close spaces with other people as much as possible.

TRY OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

“If you know someone who has meningitis in your home or has been in contact with their oral secretions (i.e. kissed them), then they should receive preventative antibiotics,” the doctor told News Digital.

This is even more important for those who are immunocompromised or who are in medications that lower the immune system, Bawer added.