Why has a meningitis outbreak happened despite there being a vaccine?

There’s a rather simple reason why a meningitis outbreak has erupted in Kent this month, experts have told Metro.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed to Metro this morning that the strain is a rare variation called meningitis B.

An agency official stressed, however, that ‘not all results are back yet’.

Two people – a University of Kent student and a sixth-form pupil – have died of the infection and nearly a dozen have been taken to the hospital.

But health experts told Metro that ‘gaps’ in the meningitis B vaccine programme could be behind the outbreak.

What is meningitis B?

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Hundreds are queuing for antibiotics after a Meningitis outbreak in Kent. One of the victims has been named as sixth form pupil Juliette, and the other was a University of Kent student. A young person told the Daily Mail their friends began to exhibit symptoms after going to Club Chemistry in Canterbury on Friday.

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Meningitis B bacteria look like two fuzzy balls glued together and sicken us by irritating our immune cells, inflaming the brain and spinal membranes, called meninges.

This inflammation creates pressure and causes fever, neck stiffness, headaches, vomiting and cognitive changes.

The initial symptoms can be easily shrugged off as a hangover or Fresher’s flu.

MenB does not spread easily from person to person, only making the leap during close physical contact like kissing or sharing utensils.

If caught early, it’s treatable with antibiotics, which kill bacteria.

One in six people who get sick with bacterial meningitis dies, and one in five survivors suffers complications like hearing loss or memory problems.

Are we vaccinated against meningitis? Can adults get meningitis?

Vaccines are available against most groups of meningococcal bacteria that can cause meningitis.

All are part of the NHS vaccination schedule, though uptake has decreased in recent years.

The bacteria aren’t picky and can infect anyone of any age, though babies and young children are particularly vulnerable.

There is a vaccine for MenB – for children. It’s given to youngsters when they’re eight weeks, 12 weeks and one year old.

The charity Meningitis Now cautioned Metro that this jab was only rolled out in 2015.

‘This means that many thousands of teenagers and young adults are unvaccinated and unprotected against this form of the disease,’ it says.

The current outbreak is thought to have started on March 5 at a student event at the Canterbury night venue, Club Chemistry.

So Dr Eliza Gil, a clinical lecturer at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, isn’t too surprised the outbreak is impacting young adults.

She says: ‘They typically occur when a meningitis-causing bacteria is introduced into a community without immunity and where there is lots of close contact.

‘This outbreak is most likely to be caused by a bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis, also often referred to as meningococcus, which causes meningococcal meningitis. 

‘Neisseria meningitidis is known to cause outbreaks of meningitis, including in students, and can cause very aggressive infections.’

Where can you get the vaccine?

The only way for young adults to get the MenB jab in their arm is to go private, such as high-street or supermarket pharmacies.

And it’s not cheap – it can cost as much as £330 for the two-part treatment.

Can you get meningitis if you have been vaccinated?

The vaccines don’t cover every type of meningitis-causing bacteria, but infections are relatively rare.

One reason MenB are difficult to vaccinate against is that it is good at camouflaging, Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor of cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, says.

‘Its outer surface resembles human tissue, making it more difficult for the immune system to recognise as a threat.

‘The MenB vaccine works by targeting specific proteins on the bacterial surface rather than the outer coating, which is how earlier meningococcal vaccines worked.’

‘Meningitis is a relatively rare disease’

Meningitis Now chief executive Dr Tom Nutt says the outbreak might seem rather scary.

‘Despite what has happened in Kent, we would like to reiterate that meningitis is a relatively rare disease,’ he says.

‘In the long-run, the good news is that the NHS vaccination programme has been very successful in bringing down the number of cases of meningitis in the UK.’

The meningitis B vaccine, Dr Nutt adds, should be given to all those at most risk of disease. Booster shots should also be offered by 2030.

‘We also urge people to make themselves aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis, to check their vaccination status, and to get immediate medical help if they suspect themselves or a loved one could have meningitis,’ he says.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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