Meningitis B vaccines offered to young people after three new cases in Dorset

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?

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.

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