If you’ve been following the news over the past few months, you’ve likely heard about the recent meningitis B outbreak in Kent. After two teenagers died and others were hospitalised having contracted meningitis at a nightclub, the outbreak has understandably concerned many students across the country. Understanding what meningitis is, as well as the symptoms to watch out for, can help reduce the risk to yourself and others.

In simple terms, meningitis is an infection of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Bacterial meningitis is often caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus, and several strains of this particular species exist – for instance, the current outbreak in Kent is known to be caused by group B meningococcus (MenB). Meningitis can be fatal due to swelling of the brain and spinal cord. More commonly, however, is death by sepsis, where the immune system becomes overactivated in response to an infection, leading to widespread inflammation and a lethal drop in blood pressure.

“Meningitis symptoms are often dismissed as a common cold or freshers’ flu”

While symptoms of meningitis can vary, they typically include a high temperature, vomiting, and dizziness. A telltale sign of meningitis is a rash that does not disappear when a glass is pressed against it, although not everybody develops this rash. One of the reasons meningitis can be so deadly in young adults is because these symptoms are often dismissed as a common cold or freshers’ flu, delaying urgent treatment until it is too late. On the BBC series Inside Health, the children’s author Michael Rosen described the loss of his son Eddie to meningitis in 1999, aged just 18. He recalled sending Eddie to bed one night with what he thought was the flu, and awoke to find that he had died in his sleep. While this is understandably a scary thought, this extremely rare case highlights the importance of awareness and vigilance against meningitis in the younger generation.

Thankfully, we have a vaccine against multiple strains of bacterial meningitis. Those who have received all vaccines under UK guidelines would have been vaccinated against meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y at age 14, while those under 24 who have not been vaccinated can request one from a GP or pharmacy. This vaccine contains antigens found on meningococcal bacteria, which initiate the immune system to produce antibodies against them. Therefore, upon actual infection, the immune system can rapidly recognise and clear the bacterial infection before it reaches the central nervous system to cause meningitis.

“Many current university students have not been vaccinated against meningitis B”

However, due to differences in antigens between different strains of meningococcus, the MenACWY vaccine is not effective against MenB. While a vaccine for MenB does exist, it was only rolled out in 2015, meaning many current university students have not been vaccinated against this strain. Since the outbreak began, over 12,000 people in Kent have been given the MenB vaccine, and it was recently announced that those who received this vaccination would be offered a second dose to maximise protection. Those who attended the nightclub where the outbreak began were also given antibiotics, both as a precautionary measure and to treat potential infections.

So, how concerned should you be about the recent meningitis B outbreak? It’s important to remember that, compared to many viruses, meningococcal bacteria are much harder to spread. MenB transmission requires close physical contact and exchange of respiratory droplets, often from coughing, sneezing, or kissing. While it’s unlikely this outbreak will become the next Covid-19, it is always important to be vigilant against meningitis, as outbreaks of both viral and bacterial meningitis can happen again. It may not be time to start isolating just yet, but recognising the key symptoms early can help to protect both you and your loved ones.