Antibiotics and MenB vaccination to be offered to young people in Dorset

Latest update

UKHSA is continuing to work with Dorset Council, NHS and local partners to support the roll out of antibiotics and vaccination to young people in Weymouth, Dorset after 3 cases of MenB were confirmed in the area. As of 8pm on 19 April, more than 1,800 pupils at Budmouth Academy and Wey Valley Academy have been given antibiotics, out of a total of 2,500 students offered them at these schools.

All 3 cases have now been discharged from hospital and there are no further suspected or confirmed cases to date.

In total, 6,500 young people in years 7 to 13 (or equivalent) across Weymouth, Portland and Chickerell will be offered both antibiotics and vaccination as a precautionary measure. From today, further rollout continues with students attending All Saints Academy being offered antibiotics as a precaution.

For anyone eligible but not in full-time education in Weymouth, Portland and Chickerell, they can access antibiotics from Tuesday afternoon at All Saints Academy.

Dr Beth Smout, UKHSA Deputy Director, said:

We are really pleased to see such high uptake of the antibiotic offer over the weekend. Antibiotics are the best course of action if there is a chance you have been exposed to meningococcal bacteria, with MenB vaccination offering longer term protection against becoming seriously ill.

Thanks to the swift action from Dorset Council, local partners and NHS staff, over 6,500 young people in the area will be able to access antibiotics, with vaccination to follow in the coming weeks.

Thankfully we have seen no further cases of meningitis, but it’s still important to recognise the signs and symptoms. Symptoms can include a fever, headache, rapid breathing, drowsiness, shivering, vomiting and cold hands and feet. Septicaemia can also cause a characteristic rash that does not fade when pressed against a glass. If the disease is suspected, you should seek immediate medical attention as the disease can progress rapidly.

Dawn Dawson, Chief Nursing Officer of Dorset HealthCare and Dorset County Hospital, said:

I’d like to thank all of the families, NHS colleagues and all partners who have worked so hard to help us to deliver the antibiotics to the children and young people of Weymouth at such speed over the weekend.

It has been an amazing multi-agency response, and we continue to work together to make sure that antibiotics and vaccinations reach the remainder of the children and young people in the eligible population this week.

Anyone who has not been able to access antibiotics and vaccination in schools, including those who are home educated, not in education or training and those who reside in Weymouth but attend a school outside of the area, can access antibiotics and vaccination at All Saints Academy between 4pm and 8pm, Tuesday 21 to Friday 24 April.

Previous

17 April

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is working with Dorset Council, the NHS and local partners following 3 confirmed cases of meningococcal infection (meningitis) in young people in Weymouth, Dorset.

The cases were confirmed between 20 March and 15 April. All have received treatment and are recovering well. Close contacts of the cases have already been offered antibiotics as a precaution.

Two of the cases attend Budmouth Academy and the other attends Wey Valley Academy. Further information about the signs and symptoms of meningitis has been shared with students and parents of both schools.

Around 300 to 400 cases of meningococcal disease are diagnosed in England every year. These 3 cases have been confirmed as Meningitis B (MenB) and are the same sub-strain type, but a different sub-strain to the one detected recently in Kent.

The 2 cases who attend Budmouth Academy are contacts of each other, but currently no confirmed epidemiological link has been made between these cases and the third individual who attends Wey Valley Academy. This may mean that this strain of MenB bacteria is transmitting more widely among young people in Weymouth. Due to this, and as an additional precautionary measure, antibiotics and MenB vaccination will now be offered to young people currently in school years 7 to 13 across(or equivalent), or anyone not in full time education who would be in one of these year groups, who study in or live in the Weymouth, Portland and Chickerell areas of Dorset.

Dr Beth Smout, UKHSA Deputy Director said:

We are working closely with partners to follow up and offer precautionary antibiotics to close contacts of the cases. However, meningococcal disease does not spread easily, and outbreaks like we have seen recently in Kent are rare. These cases are not linked to the Kent outbreak and it is important to be aware that this outbreak is not on the same scale as we saw in Kent in terms of speed of transmission or severity.

However, it is possible that we will see further cases linked to these latest cases in Weymouth and we understand that there will be concern among students, staff, parents and the local community as we widen our offer of antibiotics and vaccination. I’d like to stress that this is an additional precaution, and that we’re following national guidelines to reduce the risk of the infection spreading. School pupils and staff should attend school as normal if they remain well.

UKHSA is now recommending a single dose of antibiotics and a meningitis B vaccine be offered to young people who live or go to school in the Weymouth area, as follows:

• anyone who is a resident in Weymouth or Portland or Chickerell and is in current school years 7 to 13 (or equivalent), or anyone not in full time education who would be in one of these year groups

• anyone who attends an educational setting in the Weymouth, Portland or Chickerell area and is in current school years 7 to 13 (or equivalent).

This will be offered in stages starting with Budmouth Academy and Wey Valley schools, as the cases attend these settings. Pupils that attend other schools and other eligible children in Weymouth who do not attend school will be invited after the weekend.

Young people under 16 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is able to provide consent at the time.

More information on the vaccination schedule will be provided in due course.

Dr Smout added:

Meningococcal disease can progress rapidly, so it’s essential that everyone is alert to the signs and symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, which can include a fever, headache, rapid breathing, drowsiness, shivering, vomiting and cold hands and feet. Septicaemia can also cause a characteristic rash that does not fade when pressed against a glass. If the disease is suspected, you should seek immediate medical attention as the disease can progress rapidly.

It’s also important for teenagers to ensure they take up the MenACWY vaccine routinely offered by the NHS – but also to be aware that this vaccine does not protect against Men B, which is why knowing the symptoms and seeking early treatment is so important.

Young people in school years 7 to 13 in Weymouth are strongly encouraged to take up the offer of antibiotics and MenB vaccination and we are grateful to all those involved in our investigations so far for assisting us.

UKHSA and Dorset Council have issued advice to staff, parents and carers at all educational settings in the area.

Anyone who becomes unwell with symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia should seek medical help urgently at the closest Accident and Emergency Department or by dialling 999. Early treatment can be lifesaving. If you’re not sure if your symptoms are serious, use NHS 111 online or call 111 for further advice.