What are the symptoms of the infection? Can it be prevented? And what is being done to manage the situation?
A sixth-form pupil and a university student have died in Kent and 11 other people are believed to be seriously ill in hospital after an outbreak of a rare form of invasive meningitis. We take a look at the disease, and how the situation is being managed.
Meningitis is a serious condition in which the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord are infected with bacteria or a virus and become inflamed. It can come on suddenly – and be fatal.
The current outbreak appears to involve “invasive meningococcal disease” – this is caused by meningococcal bacteria that have caused meningitis as well as septicaemia – or blood poisoning.
Early symptoms can include a sudden onset of fever, a stiff neck and a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it. They can also include a severe headache, aversion to bright lights, vomiting and diarrhoea, seizures, joint and muscle pain, confusion and extreme sleepiness.
