Two people have died and 11 are seriously ill in hospital following an outbreak of a rare form of invasive meningitis at the University of Kent.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it had provided antibiotics to students in the Canterbury area after detecting 13 cases of invasive meningococcal disease, a combination of meningitis and septicemia.
The fast-acting disease is caused by meningococcal bacteria that spread to the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, causing meningitis, and infect the bloodstream, causing sepsis.
The UKHSA said anyone with symptoms of meningitis and sepsis should seek medical help urgently, which could help save lives.
Symptoms include rashes, sudden fever, severe headaches, stiff neck, vomiting and diarrhea, joint and muscle pain, sensitivity to bright lights, cold hands and feet, seizures, confusion, and extreme drowsiness.
The UKHSA confirmed that two people had died, while the BBC reported that one of them was a student and that 11 others were seriously ill in hospital.
UKHSA specialists have been interviewing families of those affected to identify close contacts and arrange antibiotics. The specific strain of the disease has not been identified.
Trish Mannes, UKHSA south east deputy leader, said: “We understand that many people at the university and in the wider community will be affected by this sad news and we would like to offer our condolences to the friends and family involved.”
He said close contacts of the cases have been given antibiotics “as a precautionary measure.”
“Meningococcal disease can progress rapidly, so it is essential that students and staff be alert to the signs and symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and septicemia,” he said.
“Students are especially at risk of missing the first signs of meningitis because they can be easily confused with other illnesses such as a bad cold, the flu or even a hangover.”
And he added: “That is why it is vital that, if a friend goes to bed poorly, you check him periodically and do not hesitate to seek medical help. This could save his life.”
The Guardian has contacted the University of Kent for comment.
