Is London on the brink of a meningitis outbreak?

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1:45The number of bacterial meningitis cases linked to a nightclub in Kent are on the rise. So, should Londoners be panicking? Hi, and welcome back to The Standard Podcast. I'm Tamara Kormornyk. For all the latest news, head to standard.co.uk. Coming up, is London on the brink of a meningitis outbreak?

2:14Before the weekend, Club Chemistry in Canterbury was best known for its three flaws of dance music. Now it's at the centre of an unprecedented meningitis B outbreak, which has sadly led to the death of two students. Here's the latest update from Health Secretary Wes Streeting. The bacteria is passed to others after a long period of close contact. For example, with living with someone in shared accommodation, through prolonged kissing or sharing vapes and drinks. people are understandably asking about a vaccine. Given the severity of the situation, we will begin a targeted vaccination programme for students living in halls of residence at the University of Kent in Canterbury, which will begin in the coming days.

3:05To assess the risk of the outbreak to Londoners, I speak to immunisation specialist Dr Helen Burford, who is a professor of children's health at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. Here's my chat with Helen.

3:21Hi, Helen. Thanks so much for coming back onto The Standard podcast. Hello. Nice to be back again. Thanks for asking me. So, Helen, it is absolutely devastating what is happening. This outbreak in Kent, two students have passed away. It's truly shocking, right? Yes, it is very scary indeed. Indeed. So we do have outbreaks of meningococcal disease from time to time, but they're usually much smaller than this, you know, in universities or schools, maybe two or three cases. But at the time we're talking, it's been reported that there are 15 linked cases. And as you mentioned, very sadly, two young people have died as a result of this infection, just demonstrating how scary and how serious it is.

4:15Mm, it's the meningitis B strain. Is this a new strain? No, no. Meningitis B strain has always been the most common strain in this country. But we have reduced the numbers of cases very successfully because 10 years ago, a vaccine was introduced to protect infants. So that's babies under the age of one. And they're the target group for this vaccine because most of the cases occur in young babies. and obviously they're very vulnerable at that age. So this isn't a new strain by any means, but these bacteria are very complicated because there is a men-be strain, but that strain will have hundreds of different variants which keep evolving.

5:10And this is how the bacteria survive. They're very clever. They evolve so that they can continue surviving. And how differently does bacterial meningitis behave compared with viral meningitis? Well, as the names implies, viral meningitis is caused by a virus. And although the symptoms can be quite similar at first, the disease is usually less severe. And the cause of viral meningitis, there are lots of different viral causes, but they're mainly so-called enteroviruses, which cause things like the common cold and respiratory illnesses and stomach bugs and those sorts of things. Now, bacterial meningitis, and there are lots of different organisms that cause bacterial meningitis.

6:04And we're thinking about meningococcal meningitis here in this outbreak. Very nasty infections. And one of the sort of really scary aspects of these infections is that when the symptoms first start, they can seem like flu or sometimes even like a hangover, those sorts of things. But it can develop incredibly rapidly. so literally over the space of a day somebody can start developing symptoms but 24 hours later be extremely ill or unfortunately even die from it. And what are some of the symptoms that people should be looking out for? You mentioned it might feel like a hangover but does it present in a traditional way that you might think you know with the if you have spots on your skin you roll a glass over it, that type of thing?

7:01So the symptoms that are generally kind of considered are a sudden high fever, so a high temperature, having a really bad headache, disliking bright lights. Sometimes some of the strains cause vomiting and diarrhea. You can get very pale, blotchy skin, very, very cold hands and feet and being drowsy. And as you mentioned, the skin rash. So this is classic as a complication of meningitis. When people get septicemia, you get a rash. And if you press a glass on the rash, the rash doesn't blanch, doesn't go away. So that's a classic sign. But the problem is, of course, that sometimes people just have flu-like symptoms.

7:51And it's often very difficult to spot the difference, to know when somebody is going to develop full-blown meningitis.

8:04We'll take a quick break. Coming up, I ask Helen her view on a theory that students sharing vapes contributed to the outbreak and whether adults need to be vaccinated against MenB. We'll be back in just a moment.

8:25My perfect day as sand, salt, water, and friends. But my moderate to severe plaque psoriasis can take me out of the moment. Now I'm all in with clearer skin thanks to Sky Rizzi. Rizzi and Kizum at Rizzi, a prescription-only 150 milligram injection for adults who are candidates for systemic or phototherapy. With SkyRizzy, most people saw 90 % clearer skin and many were even 100 % plaque-free at four months. SkyRizzy is just four doses a year after two starter doses. Don't use if allergic to SkyRizzy. Serious allergic reactions, increased infections, or lower ability to fight them may occur. Before treatment, get checked for infections and tuberculosis.

9:02Tell your doctor about any flu-like symptoms or vaccines. Thanks to SkyRizzy, there's nothing on my skin. And that means everything. Nothing is everything. Ask your doctor about SkyRizzy, the number one dermatologist prescribed biologic in psoriasis. Visit SkyRizzy.com or call 1-866-SKY-Rizzy to learn more. Youth mental health is a complex challenge that requires comprehensive solutions. We must strengthen after-school programs. We must make digital literacy tools available in our schools. We must work with mental health professionals to support children. and we must empower mentors, educators and parents to keep kids happy.

9:44Learn more about our commitment to finding lasting solutions at empowerourfuturecoalition.com slash solutions. Paid for by the Coalition to Empower Our Future.

9:59Welcome back. Let's get back to my conversation with Helen.

10:09There's also a conversation with this story around the way it's spread. Obviously, students spending extended periods of time together. There's also a suggestion that sharing a vape might put you into that prolonged contact, close contact category. How quickly and easily does this virus spread? Well, the issue with this particular bug, this meningococcal bug, is that quite a proportion of people carry it in their nose and throats and they're completely healthy and they never get unwell. The problem is that if it gets passed on to somebody for whatever reason, they're at higher risk. It may be genetics.

10:57We don't really understand all the risk factors. But a lot of people walk around with these bugs in their nose and throats and perfectly healthy. The situation that this bacterial seems to have been passed on is in a club, a nightclub situation. So there's lots of people, very close, probably loud music. So people will be right up close to each other, perhaps shouting at each other. And that's how you get the infection spreading with droplets. But also things like sharing a vape. There is no evidence to show that sharing a vape caused this. But as people carry the organism in their nose and throats, it's basically in your mouth.

11:42If you put a vape in and then give it to somebody else and you're carrying the organism, of course, that's going to be a risk factor. So aside from suggesting people don't vape at all, I would suggest that this is a potential risk factor. But there is no evidence supporting that. But it makes common sense. We also know that smoking, so smoking cigarettes, is a risk factor for developing meningococcal disease because it has an effect on your tissues in your nose and throat. And it means that the organisms can stick more easily. so as a generality vaping and smoking cigarettes is not to be advised just on the basis that it might put you at greater risk of meningococcal disease and so if a good amount of the population carry this men be just day to day how do we know who should be vaccinated as adults?

12:43Well, the group that are currently being vaccinated routinely are the young babies because they are most at risk. Most of the disease occurs at that age, under the age of five, with most of it under the age of one. So this is the target age group for the vaccination programme. And most people, even though they're carrying these organisms, will never come to any harm. It's still, although we've had this outbreak and it sounds very alarming, and it is very alarming, it is quite a small number in the whole population. So most people live quite happily with carrying the organism and never become unwell.

13:24It is still a very rare infection. And as you said, the outbreak is being linked with a particular nightclub. in Kent. Kent is obviously next to London. So just to wrap up our conversation, Helen, do you think Londoners should be on high alert? And do you think there are any steps that people, especially, you know, South East London, precautions people should be taking? I don't think they should be on high alert at all. But obviously, people should be aware of the possible symptoms. And if they're concerned to call 111 or speak to their GP, And just to encourage parents of young babies to ensure that they are protected with the vaccine when their babies are offered it.

14:15Right. Well, thank you so much for all of your insights on this, Helen. Really appreciate you coming on The Standard podcast again. Thanks very much for having me.

14:30And that's The Standard. For all the latest news, head to standard.co.uk. if you're new here hit follow and give us a rating if you'd like to get in touch email us at podcasts at standard.co.uk we'll be back here tomorrow morning see you then

14:53my perfect day as sand salt water and friends but my moderate to severe plaque psoriasis can take me out of the moment now i'm all in with clearer skin thanks to sky rizzy rizzen kizum at RZA, a prescription-only 150 milligram injection for adults who are candidates for systemic or phototherapy. With SkyRizzy, most people saw 90 % clearer skin and many were even 100 % plaque-free at four months. SkyRizzy is just four doses a year after two starter doses. Don't use if allergic to SkyRizzy. Serious allergic reactions, increased infections, or lower ability to fight them may occur. Before treatment, get checked for infections and tuberculosis.

15:30Tell your doctor about any flu-like symptoms or vaccines. Thanks to SkyRizzy, there's nothing on my skin, and that means everything.

15:40Ask your doctor about SkyRizzy, the number one dermatologist prescribed biologic in psoriasis. Visit SkyRizzy.com or call 1-866-SKYRizzy to learn more. Youth mental health is a complex challenge that requires comprehensive solutions. We must strengthen after-school programs. We must make digital literacy tools available in our schools. We must work with mental health professionals to support children. And we must empower mentors, educators, and parents to keep kids happy. Learn more about our commitment to finding lasting solutions at empowerourfuturecoalition.com slash solutions. Paid for by the Coalition to Empower Our Future.