Get you up to speed: Meningitis B Vaccines Available for Youth Following Three Confirmed Cases in Dorset
Three new cases of meningitis B in Weymouth prompt the UK Health Security Agency to offer vaccinations and antibiotics to young people in local schools.
Dr Beth Smout of the UK Health Security Agency emphasised the importance of precautionary measures following three new cases of meningitis B in Dorset schools.
In Weymouth, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is providing antibiotics and vaccinations to young people in school years 7 to 13 following three confirmed meningitis B cases.
What we know so far
Health officials have confirmed three new cases of meningitis B in Weymouth, Dorset, prompting an immediate vaccination programme for young people in the area. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that all three cases were confirmed among young people and that the patients are recovering well.
Vaccinations and antibiotics are now being offered to students in school years 7 to 13 across Weymouth, Portland, and Chickerell. This preventative measure follows recent concerns regarding meningitis B outbreaks, particularly in light of a severe incident in Kent that led to two fatalities.
The latest cases were identified between March 20 and April 15, and their close contacts have already received precautionary antibiotics. Two of the patients attended Budmouth Academy, while the third is from Wey Valley Academy. Although they are known to each other, health officials have stated there is currently no established link with the pupil from Wey Valley Academy.
Dr Beth Smout of the UKHSA noted that while these cases are not connected to the earlier Kent outbreak, there is potential for more cases to arise. She emphasised the importance of vaccination and antibiotics as additional precautions, aligning with national guidelines to mitigate the risk of infection spreading.
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Meningitis B vaccines offered to young people after three new cases confirmed in Dorset | News UK
Three new cases of meningitis B have prompted health officials to offer jabs in Weymouth, Dorset.
All three new cases were confirmed in young people, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.
The health watchdog said that the patients were all recovering well.
Now antibiotics and vaccines against the infection have been rolled out on offer to young people currently in school years 7 to 13 in Weymouth, Portland, and Chickerell areas.
Where were the three new cases of meningitis?
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The UKHSA said the cases were discovered between March 20 and April 15.
The close contacts of the three pupils who were taken ill have already been given antibiotics as a precaution.
Two of the young people attended Budmouth Academy, a large secondary school in Weymouth.
The third pupil attended Wey Valley Academy, another secondary school.
The Budmouth Academy students are known to each other, but there is currently no established link with the pupil at Wey Valley Academy, the watchdog said.
‘This may mean that this strain of menB bacteria is transmitting more widely among young people in Weymouth,’ it said.
The precautions come after a deadly outbreak of menB caused concern in Kent and beyond after cases exploded.
Two students died after contracting the infection, which can turn life-threatening quickly.
Juliette Kenny, 18, a Year 13 student in Faversham, died one day after her symptoms started after contracting menB, with her dad saying she was ‘fit, healthy and strong’ before her death.
The three Weymouth cases of menB are the same sub-strain type but a different sub-strain itself from the Kent cases.
Dr Beth Smout, UKHSA deputy director, said: ‘We are working closely with partners to follow up and offer precautionary antibiotics to close contacts of the cases.
‘However, meningococcal disease does not spread easily, and outbreaks like we have seen recently in Kent are rare.
‘These cases are not linked to the Kent outbreak, and it is important to be aware that this outbreak is not on the same scale as we saw in Kent in terms of speed of transmission or severity.
‘However, it is possible that we will see further cases linked to these latest cases in Weymouth and we understand that there will be concern among students, staff, parents and the local community as we widen our offer of antibiotics and vaccination.
‘I’d like to stress that this is an additional precaution, and that we’re following national guidelines to reduce the risk of the infection spreading.
‘School pupils and staff should attend school as normal if they remain well.’
What are symptoms of meningitis B infection?
Anyone suspecting the disease should seek immediate medical attention as Meningococcal infection can progress rapidly.
Symptoms can include a fever, headache, rapid breathing, drowsiness, shivering, vomiting and cold hands and feet.
Men B infection has an incubation period of two to seven days typically, although sometimes symptoms might not appear until 10 days after infeciton.