There are several vaccinations that offer some protection against Meningitis (Image: Getty)
Officials have issued a warning amid a Meningitis outbreak, which has caused the death of two people in Kent. The infection, which is most common in young children, students, and young adults, affects the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. It can also cause life-threatening sepsis and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.
There are two types of infection, viral and bacterial, which, according to the NHS, is rarer than viral meningitis but more serious. Infections can be spread through sneezing, coughing, and kissing, causing a range of symptoms to develop suddenly.
READ MORE: UK grammar school issues statement after pupil dies from ‘invasive’ disease
READ MORE: Victims of fatal UK meningitis outbreak ‘all attended same event’
Symptoms listed on the NHS website include a high temperature (fever), being sick, a headache, a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop), a stiff neck, a dislike of bright lights, drowsiness or unresponsiveness, and seizures (fits).
However, there is one major symptom that can also affect an individual who has contracted the infection: Dilopia (double vision). The serious neurological symptom is caused by inflammation impacting the cranial nerves (III, IV, or VI) that control eye movement.
The UK’s largest meningitis charity Meningsitis Now, shares a testimony of a woman who contracted viral meningitis and experienced the neurological symptoms within a week. She explains that she had to keep her eyes closed « nearly all the time to ‘rest’ them » and « the virus had damaged my optic nerve ».
Fortunately, her eyes gradually healed.
Kent is experiencing a Meningitis outbreak (Image: Getty)
While there are several vaccines that offer some protection against the infection, including MenB, 6-in-1, Pneumococcal, MMRV, and MenACWY, and various ways to treat it, if not treated quickly, it can be life-threatening.
An outbreak in Kent has seen the death of two students, and others are seriously ill.
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham said its sixth form pupil died on Saturday, and on Sunday, the University of Kent also confirmed the death of one of its students after 11 people became ill due to an « invasive » meningitis outbreak in Canterbury.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has contacted more than 30,000 students, staff and families to inform them of the situation.
Amelia McIlroy, headteacher at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, said: « It is with great sadness that we can confirm that on Saturday, one of our much loved students in Year 13, died of meningitis.
« We are all absolutely devastated. Our love and thoughts are with their family and friends.
« Our priority now is the safety, well-being and support of all members of our school community at this terribly sad time.
« We will be working with UKHSA to ensure that all appropriate actions are taken to protect our students and staff. »
Trish Mannes, UKSHA regional deputy director for the South East, explained that students may be at risk of ignoring symptoms because they are « easily confused with other illnesses such as a bad cold, flu, or even a hangover ».
She also assured students and staff that « close contacts of cases have been given antibiotics as a precautionary measure ».
Vice-chancellor Georgina Randsley de Moura at the University of Kent informed students that there would be no in-person assessments this week, but the campus would remain open.
She said: « Events like this affect people in different ways, and I recognise that many of us will feel shocked, distressed or in need of support. »
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