New meningitis outbreak: Doctor explains the symptoms to be aware of

Hinzugefügt: 2026-05-15

[00:00:00]A young person has sadly died and two other other people are being treated after an outbreak of menitis in Reading which is in Barkshire. It follows a major outbreak of course in Kent and that left two people uh dead and more than a dozen needing hospital treatment back in March. But it appears so far that the cases aren't related. Yeah. So the UK health security agency says the risk to the general public remains low.

[00:00:29]But obviously understand that people will be worried about a rise in cases.

[00:00:33]Dr. Hillary joins us now. Just to be clear from what we understood from the last outbreak is that whenever menitis comes into A&E, there is a legal requirement, isn't there, to flag it to the UK health. So this the the idea that we know about it uh makes us feel worried. But these um red flags go up all the time across the country, don't they?

[00:00:53]>> Yes, they do. And to keep things in perspective, I think the Kent outbreak was very unusual. there are unusual unusually large number of cases and that's raised sensitivity and vulnerability to uh perception to to to this particular small outbreak. Now it's worth saying that every year we see about 475 cases >> of menitis of menitis no four fifths of menitis B so about >> 400 cases every year sporadically dotted around the country a oneoff here a oneoff there >> so it's unusual to see those cases in Kent now we've got one death in a sixth former in Reading and two cases >> but this is not an outbreak I don't I wouldn't call this an outbreak. It it's a it's an example of these sporadic cases. Those um uh people who were in close contact would have been given antibiotics. Um and of course if it's a wider outbreak if that develops then they'll they'll use the menb vaccination as well.

[00:01:56]>> So just remind people what the difference is not just in the two strains of menitis but in the fact that one can be more worrying. Is it because we don't have the vaccination routinely for menitis B or why is it that the menitis B outbreak in K cause so much concern?

[00:02:13]>> The menitis B is available. It's usually given to babies as part of the childhood immunization program.

[00:02:17]>> People that missed out though, isn't it?

[00:02:20]That's right. Yeah.

[00:02:21]>> And and because 25% of young adults carry the these bugs in their throats and noses all the time, >> it's considered that the men vaccine wouldn't be terribly effective. Um they use the other one. Um, in Kent it was thought that the nightclub scenario where people are shouting and and dancing and singing and screaming, >> sharing vapes, I think, >> sharing vapes was also to blame. That was maybe partly responsible. We're not quite sure why it spread um as far as it did, but it was contained with antibiotics and the vaccination program.

[00:02:54]And of course, >> the antibiotics do work.

[00:02:56]>> Oh, absolutely they do. Yeah. and they work straight away as opposed to the vaccine which takes you know at least 3 weeks to kick in and protection.

[00:03:05]>> So this is not going to this is very unlikely to be a risk to the general public. Um just like hivirus it's not going to be a risk to the general public. It's contained um we're we're monitoring the situation.

[00:03:17]>> The important thing for everybody is to be aware of the signs and symptoms. Got it.

[00:03:22]>> Um and if you're aware of the signs and symptoms because minutes count with menitis. It's a horrible disease and it can accelerate very quickly. So, somebody could be very healthy in the morning and and desperately ill in the evening. So, being aware of the symptoms is important. Those symptoms would include fever. They'd uh include headache. They'd include neck stiffness.

[00:03:43]They'd include um uh uh perhaps a rash on the body, cold hands and feet, but mottled skin. And then in the later stages, a rash that doesn't blanch if it's pressed with a glass tumbler, the tumbler test. Um, other symptoms, nausea and vomiting. Um, but any parent worried about a child should use their intuition. You know, if your child is unwell and and confused, drowsy, >> dislike of bright lights. These are the symptoms you should be aware of. And don't don't hesitate. Follow your instincts and phone 11 or go to A&E. The problem is of course that for um kids who are at university, their moms and dads aren't there and they're relying on other 18 and 19 year olds to monitor them which is very one of the heartbreak. People were ringing up their parents and saying I feel unwell and and everybody was assuming it was a late night or a touch of a cold and that's what I think has triggered so much concern, isn't it?

[00:04:37]>> Absolutely. They're living in halls of residence. They're in close proximity.

[00:04:41]You know, they're kissing. Let's be, you know, they're in close contact. Let me just ask I was just about to ask you a question from Sadi on WhatsApp. Uh after the Kent outbreak, I decided to get my daughter the vaccine privately as she attends university. However, it was incredibly difficult to find a pharmacy with vaccines. Many said there's a shortage of vaccines nationally. Is this actually a hidden problem?

[00:05:02]>> I don't think it's a hidden problem. It it it's a deliberate um campaign that we we target the the most vulnerable who are young babies and young children. And menitis B is reserved then for for people who are exposed in an outbreak because then it's more effective than giving it.

[00:05:17]>> So in general, you shouldn't go and get it as a preventative measure because you're worried that it might so spreading. I don't think so. It's just being aware of the symptoms is the key