Well it looks like the mega expensive covid enquiry and what lessons can be learnt was a waste of money.
As students leave the Kent campus and head home , by train, plane and automobile.
Not a virus but surly lessons were learnt and some actions should be implemented.
( I do think it's harder to spread though, but no guidelines set out from anyone ( Govt) from my perspective. )
Look I was all for the Covid restrictions but a few cases of meningitis isn’t something you lock the country down for nor have an epidemic of. Get a sense of proportion.
Unless he's planning on pinning an 18 year old to the wall and sticking his tongue down her throat?
Not a virus but surly lessons were learnt and some actions should be implemented.
I'm in it for the long haul.
I did not mean FULL covid restrictions, par sey but it did.seem odd with students interviewed on the news last night stating they were all going home to families everywhere inc abroad by plane.
And in the next few sentences folk who think they were in the area need to report for anti biotics etc.
But I am no expert and maybe it's the way the news is reported that's it's was a huge issue.
So maybe there maybe the odd outbreak elsewhere now and more people told to report for anti biotics ...poor NHS more work to do.
The media and social media do love a good old panic for clicks. We've had outbreaks in the past, particularly in the early 90's, but that tended to be meningococcal C, until a vaccine was developed for it. this is meningococcal group B and usually spreads quite slowly in amongst those in close contact. The fact that they've identified it, identified the club they're interested and got antibiotics out to those who may have been in contact with affected individuals is pretty bloody good in reality. No point in lockdowns and a sudden vaccination surge won't help that much as Men-B vaccine takes a while for the antibodies to develop, so the correct stance, is monitor, trace and antibiotics to those affected or for those in direct contact with, but showing no symptoms.
( I do think it's harder to spread though, but no guidelines set out from anyone ( Govt) from my perspective. )
It's a fairly regular occurrence amongst student populations and you tend to get regular awareness campaigns targeted at young people - particularly during freshers weeks (as you tend to get outbreaks during freshers weeks). Your perspective - unless you're a student, work in education, or a medic where there are large student populations that needs to be particularly alert to the symptoms - isn't the one that the gov would be targeting with information.
The covid enquiry is in no way relevant to this situation
But I am no expert
You're not? Makes it easier to have firmly held opinions I guess... It's young people being offered antibiotics, after which it's fine for them to trave/mix though sharing vapes inadvisable... Obv it's ages since there was last a meningitis outbreak but that doesn't mean the public health system isn't operating as it should.
Lost 2 very close friends in the 90's to this disease. Still makes me shudder.
"I'm in it for the long haul."
Nod of approval
Straight into it. No Preamble there.
We had a similar meningitis outbreak when I was in the 6th form, it's relatively common though deaths are thankfully rare - we all got jabbed and then carried on.
The system has worked fine for the risk of this disease as far as I can tell.
Word being banded about that it was shared Vapes accelerating the spread.
That's just manky.
Knock yourselves out:
State of the world, and this is A Top News Headline.
Had a meningitis outbreak when I was at uni; one of my flatmates had a cough, so we all got sent to A&E and some interesting antibiotics that made all bodily fluids red. Fun times, big news it was not
probably one of the greatest threats to students who may get meningitis is nobody being close enough to them to spot the symptoms and seek help; the symptoms are similar to a hangover, as they get worse the infected person can become confused and unable to realise the seriousness of their condition. Whilst it turns your "disease spread" worry on its head - sending students home might actually save lives - because there will be someone there to keep an eye on them!I did not mean FULL covid restrictions, par sey but it did.seem odd with students interviewed on the news last night stating they were all going home to families everywhere inc abroad by plane.
there are hundreds of cases of meningitis in the UK each year (used to be thousands before vaccines), it is endemic in the UK, but its actually quite hard to "catch".So maybe there maybe the odd outbreak elsewhere now and more people told to report for anti biotics ...poor NHS more work to do.
State of the world, and this is A Top News Headline.
Had a meningitis outbreak when I was at uni; one of my flatmates had a cough, so we all got sent to A&E and some interesting antibiotics that made all bodily fluids red. Fun times, big news it was not
How many people died?
there are hundreds of cases of meningitis in the UK each year (used to be thousands before vaccines),
AIUI we've only recently started vaccinating for MenB, which is what this is. If you're older than about 10 then you're probably not inoculated.
there are hundreds of cases of meningitis in the UK each year (used to be thousands before vaccines),
AIUI we've only recently started vaccinating for MenB, which is what this is. If you're older than about 10 then you're probably not inoculated.
Correct - since the widespread vaccination against other meningococcal strains MenB has been the main culprit. There are about 300 cases of MenB in England a year. But if you are on a coach full of people there is likely to be more than one person asymptomatically carrying the bacterium. Very few people get sick - the problem is when you do get sick you get big sick very fast.
How many people died?
Good question, I think it was part of a wider outbreak in the northeast, in which a few kids died. And it may actually have been on the news - albeit at a time when the world wasn't quite so mental.
I've no doubt there are some very worried parents; but the actual logistics do seem relatively straightforward once resources are focused on ending the outbreak
Meningitis outbreaks at unis were a thing long before the arrival of covid. Students are very good at transmitting it between themselves. Once they are dispersed the transmission risks fall.
We've had a vaccine for some forms of meningitis available for teenagers for ten years. But that can't offer complete protection against all strains, in this case, the B variety, which is not covered.
Not sure what lessons from Covid you could apply to this sort of situation, everything is being done pretty much as it should be.
Vaccines seem an unclear story at the moment. A fellow parent with a lad up at Leeds w EpicJnr is a paediatrician, and we are getting both boys the MenB vax privately. The boys enjoy going clubbing so seems sensible.
But the Graun has an article saying it's not required, but finishes with the words of the same expert talking about the importance of jabs. Confusing.
This current age group didn't get B just ACWY. While the risk is low, i wouldn't want to be either of the families who have experienced the loss of a son/daughter
Good question, I think it was part of a wider outbreak in the northeast, in which a few kids died. And it may actually have been on the news - albeit at a time when the world wasn't quite so mental.
So... sorry, what's your point? "The state of the world today" because an outbreak made the news just like it did last time? 🤷♂️
In any case, aside from "people dying" being newsworthy, it's surely in the public interest to report the outbreak of a contagious disease.
Not sure what lessons from Covid you could apply to this sort of situation, everything is being done pretty much as it should be.
Chinstraps are back in fashion, I notice.
State of the world, and this is A Top News Headline.
Well, you've probably worked out that Iran aren't going to nuke us, that Russia isn't at the borders, and being spring, we aren't all going to die of cold or flooding*, so today we should panic (and/or get enraged) about meningitis a few hundred miles away and hopefully tomorrow a fox will be spotted rifling through some bins near a nursery and so we can panic about vulpine predation of infants.
Stop the spread? If you're talking about stopping the spread of stupid news for stupid people then I agree.
*maybe not this week, anyway.
The beeb have a decent article here. A little warning, there are some comments from an expert or two that might make people a little nervous.
(That's not a dig, that includes myself.)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqlglkprv0qo
I was at a meeting today with a UKHSA virologist present, and although not being asked to stand anything up they are keeping close watch.
I hope the armchair experts are right, but this is so far not a typical outbreak and is being looked at as to why.
probably one of the greatest threats to students who may get meningitis is nobody being close enough to them to spot the symptoms and seek help;
That's how my uni friend died in the late 90s. Told his girlfriend he had a headache and wasn't up for going out. Found dead in his bed. But AFAIK there was no further cases.
I was at a meeting today with a UKHSA virologist present, and although not being asked to stand anything up they are keeping close watch.
I hope the armchair experts are right, but this is so far not a typical outbreak and is being looked at as to why.
This is the thing, there are a few hundred cases a year anyway, but mostly just isolated/random/unlucky, the concerning thing with this, is there seems to be an 'epicenter' this time with a lot of cases concentrated in a small area (relativley speaking).
Has it become more contagious than it was? it seems quite novel.
Has it become more contagious than it was? it seems quite novel.
Not enough data and not speculating, but it's atypical enough to be so far 'interesting'
And in other news (except of course it's not) 4 to 5 people a day die due the epidemic of woeful driving and 80 are seriously injured. But we all happily live with that because despite those statistics it's still very unlikely to be us as individuals. At this stage the chances of the outbreak affecting anyone outside of the immediate bubble of people crammed together in that sweaty nightclub is negl8gible to zero. Personally ill be more concerned about the cock wobble doing 70 in the middle lane texting on my way to work.
And in other news (except of course it's not) 4 to 5 people a day die due the epidemic of woeful driving and 80 are seriously injured. But we all happily live with that because despite those statistics it's still very unlikely to be us as individuals. At this stage the chances of the outbreak affecting anyone outside of the immediate bubble of people crammed together in that sweaty nightclub is negl8gible to zero. Personally ill be more concerned about the cock wobble doing 70 in the middle lane texting on my way to work.
Sure, and whatabout the whataboutery?
Graun reporting ukhsa think they've got it under control, and that it's a known strain of MenB.....
Daughter comes back from uni (not in Kent!) for Easter this weekend. If the transmission is still ongoing, is there a risk of wider outbreaks as the Kent students get up close and personal back home?
Presumably the publicity and national advice to be vigilant will help identify any such cases
Rock and a hard place for NHS and UKHSA, for an illness that presents initially like a flu but can deteriorate fast how do you get people to be vigilant without panicking?
They can't control the way news agencies present it, or what place in the running order it sits. And unless they get people looking for it how do they track if it is becoming an issue in time to respond.
Yes, it might turn out to be an over reaction, and yes there are way more lives lost on the roads. I'd direct some of the complainers to the early pages of the covid thread where exactly the same sorts of things were said. Not saying we need(ed) a covid response to this but equally if it taught us that vigilance and an early response IF NEEDED is better than a later one
The prophylactic antibiotic being given is Ciprofloxacin, from the Fluoroquinolone Group of ABs. Cipro (and other FQs) have been heavily restricted in the last few years due to a risk of significant and irreversible adverse drug reactions. They attack mitochondrial DNA and can screw people up for life. They are however deemed to be suitable as they are effective against things like Anthrax and Meningitis. I'd wager that those currently administering and receiving the Cipro as a precaution believe it's all to the good as it's better than dying from MenB. Few will have any idea of the actual risk involved. Some of these young people are about to have their lives ruined but not in the way they fear.
A terrible situation for them to be in.
Long time since I've said this but - cite please. Including sources.
Long time since I've said this but - cite please. Including sources.
The gist of it is true, as I imagine you're aware. UKHSA, however, has stated that the single-dose prophylaxis is in their view a tiny risk worth taking (text below is from the doc I linked further up this page. Ref 54 is a Cochrane review, if you like that sort of thing):
8.3 Choice of agent for chemoprophylaxis
There have been recent EU-wide restrictions and precautions on the use of systemic
fluoroquinolone antibiotics (including ciprofloxacin), due to very rare reports of serious side-
effects. In view of the most recent UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Guidance for public health management of meningococcal disease in the UK
28
(MHRA) position on their use in January 2024,x the current chemoprophylaxis recommendations
were reassessed and the risk of complications after a single stat dose of ciprofloxacin for
meningococcal prophylaxis, if any, was considered to be extremely small whilst the benefits of
preventing secondary cases of meningococcal disease are very high.xi
Ciprofloxacin, therefore, remains the recommended choice for meningococcal
chemoprophylaxis because it has a number of advantages over rifampicin (54). It is given as a
single dose, does not interact with oral contraceptives, and is more readily available in
community pharmacies; it is licensed for this indication in adults.
Sorry, yes. My response was a bit brusque, I read / misread as a bit of a vaccine denier type response, and while it is phrased in a slightly (imho) sensationalist way it didnt deserve the response.
Hopefully the UKHSA / MHRA have their risk-reward in the right place
Look I was all for the Covid restrictions but a few cases of meningitis isn’t something you lock the country down for nor have an epidemic of. Get a sense of proportion.
It’s more difficult to catch than Covid or flu, it requires actual contact, which is why the epicentre seems to be a club, with people snogging and sharing vapes. Whether they can pin down patient zero, though, is another question.
It’s more difficult to catch than Covid or flu, it requires actual contact, which is why the epicentre seems to be a club, with people snogging and sharing vapes.
That's true for a typical outbreak. Even still yesterday my colleague from UKHSA was 'on watch' because it wasn't clear this was developing typically, hence why the rapid response with AB, vaccinations, and contact tracing was appropriate.
I think the response was proportionate at the time, might in hindsight have not been needed but as I said before, damned if they do, damned if they don't.