Two children from different Reading schools are receiving treatment after contracting meningitis, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed. One pupil attends Reading Blue Coat School, while the other is a student at Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre. The update comes after a student from Henley College in Oxfordshire died from the infection. Close contacts of all affected individuals have been offered antibiotics as a precautionary measure.
No Link to Kent Outbreak
The UKHSA has stated that testing showed these cases were not caused by the same strain of the virus linked to a meningitis B outbreak in Kent in March, which resulted in two deaths. Dr. Rachel Mearkle, consultant in health protection, expressed condolences to the family and friends of the deceased student. She emphasized that meningococcal meningitis requires very close contact to spread and that large outbreaks are rare. 'We are working closely with partners and have provided public health advice and precautionary antibiotic treatment to close contacts,' Dr. Mearkle said. 'Meningococcal disease does not spread easily, and the risk to the wider public remains low.'
Symptoms and Awareness
Parents and students at all affected schools have been informed about the signs of meningitis. Symptoms include high temperature, severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, confusion, drowsiness, cold hands and feet, severe muscle pain, and a rash that does not fade under pressure. Bacterial meningitis is fatal in around one in 10 cases and can cause death within 24 hours if untreated. Dr. Mearkle stressed that anyone can get meningitis, with 300 to 400 cases diagnosed in England each year. 'It needs to be treated quickly, so it is important to know the signs and symptoms. They can appear in any order and may not all be present, so seek rapid medical attention if there is ever any concern,' she added.
College Statement
Henley College released a statement expressing 'thoughts and sincere condolences' to the student's family and friends. The college is supporting those affected and following UKHSA guidance. 'Out of respect for the family, we will not be providing further detail at this time,' the statement added. Following the Kent outbreak, thousands of people received the MenB vaccine or antibiotics. Professor Andrew Preston from the University of Bath noted that this latest outbreak has emerged in the college-age cohort, similar to Kent. 'All current cases appear contained to a well-defined social contact group, which enables rapid contact tracing and administration of antibiotics and vaccination if deemed necessary. At the moment, there is no indication of transmission to the wider community, although this will have caused wide concern in the area,' he said.
