Meningitis: All the outbreaks in the last 25 years

A student at Henley College died after three cases were confirmed in the Reading area on Thursday.

In a statement on Friday morning, Henley College said: “The Henley College can confirm that one of its students sadly passed away earlier this week.

READ MORE: Oxfordshire college student died from meningitis confirmed

“Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with the student’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time.

“We are supporting those affected within our college community and are following the advice and guidance given by the UK Health Security Agency.”

So, what is meningitis? And what other outbreaks have there been across the UK in the last 25 years?

Meningitis is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults.

Students receive a vaccine in the sports hall at University of Kent campus (PA)

Meningitis is caused by a bacteria called Meningococcal bacteria that lives in the nose and throat.

The bacteria doesn’t always cause harm but can lead to meningitis or sepsis.

Strains of meningitis include MenB, MenC, and MenW which have been the leading cause of outbreaks.

But these strains have led to vaccines called the MenB vaccine and Men ACWY vaccine which covers all strains.

Symptoms include a high temperature, being sick, headache, a rash, a stiff neck, a dislike of bright lights, drowsiness, being unresponsiveness, or seizures.

Meningitis can be spread through close contact like kissing, sharing drinks, or being in close contact with a person for a lot of time.

Treatments include antibiotics, fluids, and oxygen through a face mask.

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Getting plenty of rest and taking painkillers and anti-sickness medication can help relieve the symptoms in the meantime.

It is usually caught from people who carry these viruses or bacteria in their nose or throat but are not ill themselves.

Viral meningitis will usually get better on its own and rarely causes any long-term problems.

Most people with bacterial meningitis who are treated quickly will also make a full recovery, although some are left with serious long-term problems.

The MenB vaccine has been available on the NHS since 2015 as part of routine childhood immunisations, but university students today would not have been vaccinated.

In 2000 to 2001 multiple universities across England had meningitis outbreaks, which helped drive the national MenC vaccination campaign.

In 2007 there were multiple student cases on Meningococcal meningitis at the University of Cambridge, and antibiotics were given out at the time.

Between 2013 to 2015 multiple universities saw an increase in MenW strain, prompting a MenACWY vaccine rollout.

Edinburgh University and other Scottish universities saw an increase in MenW meninigitis, student-focused vaccination campaigns were rolled out in Scotland.

At Swansea university in 2017 there was a suspected meningococcal cluster and several linked student illnesses were investigated.

In 2018 Nottinghamshire secondary schools saw a viral meningitis cluster, with public health monitoring and school alerts.

Meanwhile, in 2022 Belfast and Northern Ireland saw meningococcal case, with localised school and youth clusters reported.

One of the more recent reports occurred earlier this year with cases in Canterbury, Kent deemed the largest UK outbreak “in a generation”.

This was linked to nightclub exposure with nearly 30 cases and two deaths.

In April, as well, three cases of Men B were confirmed in Dorset, with more than 1,800 pupils at a local secondary school given antibiotics.