Urgent warning to students across England as cases of deadly meningitis rise

CASES of deadly meningitis B have reached pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, new data has revealed.

Rates are particularly high in university students, are rising sharply and are now higher than they have been since 2018.

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Meningitis B can be fatal in less than 24 hours if the bacteria enters the bloodstream to cause sepsis.

The bacteria that causes meningitis B lives in the nose and throat and can be spread by close contact from coughing, sneezing or kissing – so it’s particularly prevalent among uni students who live in close proximity to each other.

Signs of the virus can often to appear like a hangover, which is why some university students struggle to recognise when they are unwell – as many tend to participate in events held specifically for students, which in most cases, involve alcohol.

A report from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed that between September and November 2021 cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) increased with group B in young adults.

The 11-page analysis looked at the most recent data for the illness and found that during that time frame, 41.5 per cent of cases occurred in those aged 15 to 19.

This is compared to 11.8 per cent and 14.2 per cent during the same two month period in 2018 and 2019.

The paper, seen by The Guardian, found that of those with confirmed cases aged 15-24, 84.6 per cent were students registered at a further or higher education setting.

Until September last year, rates had been at a historic low, but experts warn the uptick seen could be sparked by a lockdown ‘rebound’.

Linda Glennie, director of research, evidence and policy at the Meningitis Research Foundation said the evidence from the report is important to highlight.

She explained that while the increase appeared small, that meningitis can have life-changing implications for anyone who contracts it, which is why monitoring any evidence of a rebound in cases is so vital.

“The data published by UKHSA has highlighted that students, particularly those living on campuses, have a higher risk of meningococcal disease than their peers.

“It is essential that students, young people and their families remain vigilant to the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia.

“Meningitis progresses rapidly, so it’s critical to alert someone if ill, and to seek urgent medical advice”, she added.

Lockdowns meant that everyone had to stay indoors and follow social distancing guidelines and this changed university life for students.

It meant that many people were not exposed to meningococcal, meaning that the younger population could be in an ‘immunity debt’.

The report stated that lower levels of immunity could have sparked the rise in cases.

Experts did however state that further studies would need to be done to determine how the pandemic changes transmissibility of the virus.

One of the authors of the UKHSA paper said that it’s important that this early data continues to be monitored.

Prof Ray Borrow, said that Covid responses had limited ‘natural circulation’, therefore blocking both the benefits and harms of exposure to these bacteria, which can lead to a lack of immune stimulation within the population.

Experts from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) previously found that students who were aged 18 to 24 were 3.5 times more likely to contract meningitis B than their peers who were not in school.

Vaccines can help protect against meningitis and it’s important you inoculate your children.

The NHS says that the meningitis B vaccine is a vaccine that offers protection against meningococcal group B bacteria, which are a common cause of meningitis in young children in the UK.

The vaccine is recommended for babies aged 8 weeks, followed by a second dose at 16 weeks and a booster at 1 year.