Fresh meningitis scare at college as UK outbreak leaves two dead and cases investigated
St John Rigby College, in Orrell, has written to parents and carers about a ’suspected meningococcal case’ affecting one of their students following the deadly outbreak in Kent that claimed two lives.
Another college has reported having a student with a suspected case of meningitis in a new episode reportedly not linked to the outbreak in Kent.
St John Rigby College, in Orrell, has warned parents and carers that a student has a ’suspected meningococcal case’.
The news comes after a deadly outbreak, which began at the University of Kent, was reported to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on 13 March and has claimed the lives of two young people.
The number of confirmed cases in Kent has dropped from 23 to 20, and the number of suspected cases under investigation has also fallen from 11 to 9, according to official reports.
St John Rigby College, in Orrell, Wigan, wrote to families on Friday night, saying that a suspected meningococcal case had been found among students there.
The college stated: “We have been advised by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) that a student who attends this college has recently been reported as a suspected meningococcal case, which we understand may be concerning, especially in light of the ongoing situation in Kent.
“We would like to reassure you that we have acted quickly and there is only one suspected case at the college. Health agencies have completed contact tracing and there is no known connection to the situation in Kent."
“Across England, there is roughly one case of meningitis notified each day. Health professionals are managing the local situation as we would for any other case of meningitis in Wigan.
“All close contacts of this case have been identified already and offered antibiotics as a precaution. No one who has not already been identified and contacted needs antibiotics.
“The risk to students at this time is very low. There is no need for anyone to remain off college or not continue with usual activities.”
The news comes as students in Kent were pictured queuing up to receive vaccines and antibiotics from medical staff in the sports hall at the University of Kent campus in Canterbury.
The number of cases of meningitis linked to an outbreak in Kent has dropped as a campaign to vaccinate thousands of young people continued into the fourth day.
Deputy Editor
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