A fourth case of meningitis has been confirmed in Reading, with a junior school pupil in the area now recovering well from the illness, according to health officials. The patient has links to the same wider social network as the other cases in the outbreak, which has tragically resulted in the death of one college student.
Details of the Fourth Case
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that all four cases are meningitis B. The fourth case involves a pupil attending Westwood Farm Junior School. Information has been shared with parents and carers regarding the signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease B (MenB).
Official Statement
Dr Rachel Mearkle, consultant in health protection, stated: “A fourth case of meningococcal disease has been confirmed in Reading. This fourth case has links with the same wider social network as the other cases, where measures, including antibiotic prophylaxis, have already been implemented. The individual, who attends Westwood Farm Junior School, is recovering well. Information has been shared with parents and carers at the school to advise of the signs and symptoms to look out for. All four cases have been confirmed to be meningitis B. The risk to the wider public remains low and this case is not linked to the incidents in Kent or Dorset.”
Background of the Outbreak
Lewis Waters, a student at Henley College in Oxfordshire, was among the four MenB cases in the area. He died last week, with a social media post from his father, Sean Waters, indicating that he developed sepsis “within a few hours of feeling ill.” The other two cases are pupils at separate schools: Reading Blue Coat School and Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre.
Comparison with Kent Outbreak
On Friday, the UKHSA confirmed that tests showed the infection was not the same strain of meningitis B linked to Kent. The fatal outbreak in Kent during March led to two deaths and prompted thousands to receive the MenB vaccine or antibiotics to curb the spread.
