Concerns are rising among scientists that the strain of meningitis involved in the recent outbreak in Kent may have developed the ability to spread more rapidly, according to recent findings.

Health experts from UKHSA have identified that out of the 29 cases linked to the ongoing outbreak, 13 have been confirmed to be caused by the meningitis B (menB) strain – a dangerous bacterial variant of the disease. Traditionally, menB infections in the UK have been limited to a few sporadic cases each year, mainly requiring close and direct contact for transmission.

The surge in infections connected to a nightclub in Canterbury has reignited concerns among scientists about the potential mutation of the menB strain to enhance its transmissibility.

Professor Robin May, the chief scientific officer at UKHSA, highlighted the unusual nature of the current outbreak compared to past menB patterns, stating that the clustering of cases from a single event is atypical. He mentioned the possibility of behavioral factors or evolutionary changes in the bacteria contributing to this unusual spread.

Previously, viral meningitis caused by the menC strain was the dominant form in the UK until a vaccine introduced in the 1990s led to a significant decline in cases. Now, schoolchildren receive the MenACWY vaccine in Year 9, with provisions for catch-up doses up to the age of 25 for those missed out.

While the MenACWY vaccine covers several meningitis strains, it does not include protection against menB. A separate MenB vaccine, added to the NHS schedule for infants 11 years ago, offers safeguarding for young children, but individuals born before May 1, 2015, may not have received this vaccine.

This vaccination gap among students and adolescents over 11 years old has raised concerns as this group is at higher risk for meningitis. Dr. Eliza Gil from LSHTM explained that many current students lack immunity to menB due to not being vaccinated, as the MenB vaccine was only introduced for babies in 2015.

Efforts to include menB vaccination for students have been advocated by affected individuals, families, charities, and organizations like the National Union of Students, with some individuals already seeking the vaccine privately.

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