Two teenagers hospitalised with meningitis B and 50 offered antibiotics in latest outbreak of deadly disease

Two teenagers are in hospital and nearly 50 who came into contact with them have been offered antibiotics as a precaution after the latest Meningitis B outbreak.One of the hospitalised teens attended a major festival in Cornwall with friends last month, although health officials have stressed there is no evidence of an outbreak linked to the event.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the individuals with Men B, who are both from Framlingham, Suffolk, are responding well to treatment.A spokeswoman said: ‘We continue to work closely with partners to identify close contacts of the cases and offer treatment and advice.’The bacteria that causes bacterial meningitis is commonly present in the human nose and throat and is spread by airborne transmission such as coughing or sneezing or from direct contact. It can be carried with no signs of illness.Many people are symptom-free carriers who never develop the life-threatening condition.But in some it can enter the bloodstream where it can cause sepsis and a severe, rapid inflammation of the protective membranes that surround and shield the brain and spinal cord.A major outbreak in March linked to a nightclub in Canterbury, Kent, left two young people dead and more than a dozen needing hospital treatment. A student receives an injection in the sports hall at the University of Kent campus in Canterbury, where the rollout of a meningitis B vaccine to about 5,000 students began after an outbreak in March that killed twoOther outbreaks have included one in April in Dorset that affected schoolchildren and another in May in Reading, Berkshire, that led to the death of one person and two others in hospital.In June it was announced that around a million teenagers heading to university and in their final year of sixth form will be offered a life-saving meningitis vaccine.UKHSA said they were undertaking extensive contact-tracing to find close contacts of the teenagers affected in the Suffolk outbreak.Those identified are being given courses of antibiotics as a precaution and information about signs of meningitis B to look out for.These include vomiting, fever, headaches, muscle pain, aches and cold hands and feet.These can look similar to symptoms of colds or flu, so it is important to keep checking regularly on someone who is unwell as meningitis or septicaemia can become serious within hours.Dr Smita Kapadia, consultant in communicable disease control at UKHSA, said: ‘We continue to work closely with partners to identify close contacts of the cases and offer treatment and advice.‘It is really important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of this disease as prompt treatment is the key to prevent the infection getting worse and spreading to others. Students queuing for antibiotics outside a building at the University of Kent in Canterbury Juliette Kenny, 18, a year 13 student at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham, Kent, died on March 14, just a day after first showing signs of meningitis‘Anyone can get meningitis, and around 300 to 400 cases of meningococcal disease are diagnosed in England every year. 'It’s most common in babies, young children, teenagers, and young adults.’The risk to the general public was described as being low.The menB vaccine has been offered routinely to babies as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme since 2015.Anyone born before then will not be protected.Sixth-form pupil Juliette Kenny, 18, and an unnamed University of Kent student died after the outbreak linked to a nightclub in Canterbury.Health officials at the time described the cluster of infections as 'very unusual', adding that they were trying to work out if meningitis had become more transmissible.The Boardmasters Festival - which took place on August 5 - 9 this year - is a five-day annual event featuring professional surfing and skateboarding competitions with a major live music festival. One of the teenagers who has contracted meningitis in the Suffolk outbreak had been to the Boardmasters festival in Cornwall last month. Health officials have stated there is no evidence of a link to the eventIt takes place in two locations - Watergate Bay, which is the main festival location with campsites and an arena, and Fistral Beach, where there is surfing, skating, a beach bar and a shopping village.The event's website has a dedicated section on 'Vaccinations and Your Health' which warns 'large gatherings can sometimes increase the spread of infectious illnesses' and adds full healthcare services are available on site.The organisers were contacted for a comment.