Advice and reassurance following meningitis cases in Tilehurst

You may be aware that there has been a case of meningitis affecting a pupil at Westwood Farm school.

We are working closely with the school and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), who are leading the public health response, to ensure that all appropriate measures are in place and that clear advice is shared with parents and staff.

UKHSA's guidance is that the risk to the wider school community remains low, and letters and advice are being shared directly with parents to keep them informed.

If you are worried, please visit one of the websites below, which explain how to spot the signs and symptoms, and what to do if you are worried about yourself or someone you know.

• NHS: understand signs and symptoms  
• What is meningitis? Symptoms, risks and how to protect yourself - UK Health Security Agency  
• The Meningitis Research Foundation 
• Meningitis Now

Frequently Asked Questions

What symptoms should I look out for? 

You can find information about meningitis from the NHS website at: Meningitis - Symptoms - NHS  

And further information from UKHSA in this blog at: What is meningitis? Symptoms, risks and how to protect yourself - UK Health Security Agency  

Although meningococcal disease is uncommon, it can progress rapidly, so it's important that people are aware of the signs and symptoms. Parents and guardians are advised to seek urgent medical help if they or their child develop any symptoms of meningococcal disease.  

Meningococcal infection can also cause septicaemia (sepsis), which can become life-threatening very quickly. Symptoms can appear in any order and may not all be present. Do not wait for a rash to appear before seeking help. 

 Key symptoms can include: 

• a rash that doesn't fade when pressed with a glass 

• sudden onset of high fever 

• severe and worsening headache 

• stiff neck 

• vomiting and/or diarrhoea 

• joint and muscle pain 

• dislike of bright lights 

• very cold hands and feet 

• seizures 

• confusion/delirium 

• extreme sleepiness/difficulty waking 

The NHS advice if you are concerned about an unwell individual: 

• Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis. 

• Use NHS 111 online or Call NHS 111  for advice if you're not sure if it's anything serious. 

• If you've had medical advice and are still worried or any symptoms get worse, seek medical help again. 

Is my child at risk from continuing to attend school? 

• The risk to the general school population is low 

• Meningitis B does not spread easily and requires close contact 

• Students can, and should, continue to attend schools and colleges as normal.  

What counts as a "close contact"? 

Close contacts are those with prolonged or high-risk exposure during the 7 days before onset of illness, typically: 

• Household members

• People sharing sleeping accommodation 

• Intimate partners (e.g. kissing) 

• In some circumstances, very close social groups with repeated contact 

 Casual contact (e.g. being in the same classroom) is not considered close contact. 

Why isn't everyone in the school / at other schools being given antibiotics? 

• Meningococcal bacteria do not spread easily 

• Antibiotics are recommended according to evidence based national guidance 

• Offering antibiotics more widely is not recommended because they:  

• Kill 'good' bacteria that help keep you healthy 

• Can contribute to antibiotic resistance 

• May cause unnecessary side effects. 

 National UKHSA guidance supports a targeted approach only at the current time. 

Who is normally eligible for the MenB vaccine on the routine NHS programme?   

• Routine vaccination against MenB for babies and young children was introduced in 2015, so children born after 1 May 2015 will already have received the vaccine at their 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 1-year appointments. If your child has missed any of their MenB vaccines, they can still have the MenB vaccine up to the age of 2.   

• In light of the outbreak in Kent earlier this year, the Health Secretary has also asked the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to re-examine eligibility for the MenB vaccine.  

• UKHSA continues to assess any ongoing risk to other populations.    

Why don't the NHS offer a MenB vaccine to teenagers and young adults?        

• The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) makes decisions on vaccination programmes following careful consideration of independent expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI does not currently recommend a routine MenB booster vaccination for adolescents and young adults. The JCVI routinely reviews new evidence as it emerges.  

Is the MenB vaccine safe?   

• The MenB vaccine has been thoroughly tested and meets strict safety criteria. It has been routinely used in the infant vaccination programme in the UK since 2015 and has led to 75% reduction in MenB disease in vaccinated groups. The MenB vaccine has a good safety profile.     

Can I have the MenB vaccine privately? 

• The MenB vaccine can be accessed privately through high street pharmacies, private GP providers and travel clinics. For those aged over 2 years, the vaccination course consists of 2 doses. 

How many doses of vaccine do I need? 

• The MenB vaccination course offered in response to this incident for those eligible contains two doses, which should be given at least 4 weeks after the first dose to give the best protection against MenB.  

• Arrangements will be made for eligible people to receive the second dose of the vaccine.  

• UKHSA will be sending out further information regarding vaccination for second doses where required to eligible people in due course. 

Will current vaccines provide any protection against this MenB strain?  

• It's important to know that neither the MenB or MenACWY vaccines protect against all meningococcal strains and don't protect against all infections that can cause meningitis. 

• The MenB vaccine can protect individuals from getting ill with the disease, but it does not prevent the bacteria spreading in the community. The MenACWY vaccine protects individuals from getting ill with the disease and also prevents the bacteria from spreading in the community.   

• There are two MenB vaccines licensed in the UK; Bexsero and Trumenba.  These protect against slightly different strains of MenB disease.  Bexsero is the vaccine which is offered as part of the NHS routine childhood immunisation schedule. 

• Testing is ongoing as part of the Reading cluster to understand which vaccine is likely to be most effective against the outbreak strain. 

• More information about meningitis is available on the UKHSA's blog: What is meningitis? Symptoms, risks and how to protect yourself - UK Health Security Agency 

How can I check a child's vaccination history? 

You can confirm which vaccines your child has already received by:  

• Checking their Red Book 

• Contacting their GP surgery 

• Looking for previous school immunisation emails sent via Cinnamon Digital 

• Using the NHS App - you may need to contact your child's GP surgery to set up proxy access to your child's NHS record. Once proxy access is granted, you will be able to view their immunisation history directly in the NHS App. Guidance is available here: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/help/vaccinations/view-vaccinations/  

Are there links between the different schools where cases have occurred locally? 

• Contact tracing indicates that the three confirmed cases are linked through close social or household-type contact 

• This does not mean spread is occurring broadly within schools 

• Public health response is focused on specific high-risk groups, not whole school populations 

Why aren't schools closing or cancelling activities? 

• There is no evidence this would reduce risk 

• Transmission requires close or prolonged contact 

• Schools can remain open safely with:  

• Good awareness 

• Prompt action if symptoms develop 

How will I be kept informed and where can I go for other information about meningitis and meningitis vaccinations? 

• We will provide updates if the situation changes or if any further action is needed. 

• If you have received this information through your child's school, updates will be shared through the same channel 

The Meningitis Research Foundation 

www.meningitis.org  

Helpline UK 080 8800 3344 

Meningitis Now  

www.meningitisnow.org  

Helpline 0808 80 10 388 

or helpline@meningitisnow.org