The number of meningitis cases linked to a southeast England outbreak has been revised down to 29, as health officials rush to treat patients and prevent further infections in Kent.
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), 20 of the 29 cases are confirmed, while nine are still under investigation. Health Minister Wes Streeting described the response as “herculean efforts” to manage the outbreak and warned that the coming week could be “another challenging week”.
The outbreak is believed to have originated at Club Chemistry, a three-floor nightclub in Canterbury, Kent. So far, it has claimed the lives of two people, a university student and a schoolgirl. Officials are urging anyone who visited the venue between March 5–7 to come forward for treatment.
Most confirmed cases involve group B meningococcal disease (MenB), a bacterial form of meningitis that is rarer and deadlier than the viral type and can lead to life-threatening sepsis.
Records show that over 9,000 doses of the meningitis B vaccine and 12,600 doses of antibiotics have been administered across the county.
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