What you need to know and what to do

There is an outbreak of meningococcal B disease in Kent. Two people have died. As of yesterday evening, 15 cases are confirmed and 12 more are under investigation.

This is not happening in our halls. The outbreak is centred on the University of Kent in Canterbury, and specifically linked to a nightclub called Club Chemistry. But one confirmed case involved a student at a higher education institution in London who had a direct connection to the outbreak in Kent. And meningococcal disease, while uncommon, is a particular risk for young adults living in shared accommodation. So this is worth your attention.

Here is what you need to know, and what you should actually do.

What is happening

Meningococcal disease is caused by bacteria that can lead to meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and septicaemia (blood poisoning). Both can progress to sepsis, which is life-threatening. The current outbreak involves the MenB strain. The onset of illness is often sudden, which is why recognising symptoms matters so much.

The bacteria spread through close, prolonged contact: living in the same household, kissing, sharing drinks or vapes. This is not as contagious as measles or COVID-19. You cannot catch it from walking past someone in a corridor.

What you should do right now

If you visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury on 5, 6 or 7 March, you should get preventative antibiotics. These are available from your GP anywhere in the UK. A single course is effective in preventing the disease in 90% of cases. Do not wait. Contact your GP today. Please also let us know by emailing health.wellbeing@london.ac.uk.

If you have been in close contact with anyone confirmed or suspected to have meningococcal disease, the same applies. Get antibiotics from your GP. Please also let us know by emailing health.wellbeing@london.ac.uk.

If neither of those applies to you, the risk remains low. But you should know the symptoms, and you should look out for the people around you.

Symptoms to recognise

Meningitis and septicaemia can look like a cold, flu, or a hangover in the early stages. That is what makes it dangerous. Someone can become seriously ill within hours. Symptoms can appear in any order, and not all of them will necessarily be present.

Watch for:

• A rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass (see what the rash looks like here)
• Sudden high fever
• Severe, worsening headache
• Stiff neck
• Vomiting
• Dislike of bright lights
• Very cold hands and feet
• Joint and muscle pain
• Rapid breathing
• Confusion or delirium
• Extreme sleepiness or difficulty waking
• Seizures

On darker skin, a rash may be harder to spot. Check the soles of the feet, palms of the hands, inside the eyelids, or the roof of the mouth.

Do not wait for a rash to appear before seeking help.

How to get help

In an emergency, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. If you are in halls, you can also call reception and ask them to alert the person on duty, but do not let this delay you. Getting to a doctor, nurse, or paramedic must be your priority.

If you are concerned but it is not an emergency, call NHS 111 (dial 111). Again, if you are in halls, you can let reception know so they can alert the duty staff, but speaking to a doctor or nurse must come first.

When you speak to a medical professional, describe the symptoms carefully and say that you think it could be meningitis or septicaemia.

If you have already had medical advice but you are still worried, or symptoms are getting worse, seek medical help again. Early diagnosis can be difficult, and no one will think you are wasting their time.

After getting medical help

If you are too unwell to continue normal daily activities, or if you have been diagnosed with a serious infectious illness, please let us know by completing our illness self-report form.

Make sure someone else knows you are unwell (a friend, a family member, a staff member) so they can check on you.

Remember to tell your college or university as well, as your academic and welfare support comes through them.

If someone near you is unwell

If a flatmate or friend goes to bed feeling unwell, check on them. Make sure they have obtained professional medical advice (e.g. by calling NHS 111). Go back and check again. If symptoms are worsening, act. This is not being dramatic. This is being a good neighbour. It could be lifesaving.

Vaccination

Most students will have had the MenACWY vaccine as teenagers. That protects against several strains of meningococcal disease, but it does not protect against MenB. These are different vaccines.

The MenB vaccine was added to the routine NHS schedule for babies in 2015. If you were born before 1 May 2015, you will not have received it as part of the NHS programme. There is currently no NHS catch-up programme for MenB for your age group.

A targeted MenB vaccination programme is being rolled out for students at the University of Kent’s Canterbury campus. UKHSA is assessing whether this needs to be expanded to other groups. We are monitoring their guidance closely and will update you if anything changes for our halls community.

The MenB vaccine can be purchased privately through high street pharmacies, private GPs, and travel clinics. For anyone aged over two, the course is two doses. This is a personal decision, and one worth discussing with your GP if you have questions. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men who are considered at higher risk of gonorrhoea can be offered the MenB vaccine free through sexual health clinics. You can find your local sexual health clinic on the NHS website.

What you should already have

Regardless of this outbreak, make sure you are up to date with your routine vaccinations. If you missed your MenACWY vaccine at school, your GP can provide a free catch-up if you are under 25. International students in the same age group are also eligible. The MMR vaccine, which protects against other causes of meningitis, is also available free if you have missed it.

If you are not registered with a GP in London, now is a good time to do that. You can register with any GP surgery that is accepting patients in your area. You do not need proof of address or immigration status.

Looking out for each other

Living in halls means you are around people every day. That proximity is what makes shared living both good and, occasionally, important in a situation like this. You are more likely to notice if someone on your floor seems unusually unwell than anyone else is.

The most useful thing you can do this week is simple. Know the symptoms. Tell your flatmates about them. If someone is ill, keep an eye on them. If you are worried, do not talk yourself out of calling for help. NHS 111 exists for exactly this kind of uncertainty. And 999 is there for emergencies.

Where to get help and information

• Emergency: call 999 or go to A&E
• Not sure: call NHS 111 (dial 111)
• In halls: call reception to alert duty staff (but always seek medical help first)
• NHS meningitis information: nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis
• Meningitis Research Foundation: meningitis.org or call 0808 800 3344
• Meningitis Now: meningitisnow.org or call 0808 801 0388
• UKHSA outbreak updates: gov.uk/government/news/cases-of-invasive-meningococcal-disease-confirmed-in-kent

If you have questions or concerns, your Residential Life Wardens and Resident Advisors are here. We cannot give medical advice, but we can help you work out what to do next and make sure you are not dealing with worry on your own.

We will post further updates if the situation changes.