Meningitis outbreak

You may be aware that there has been an outbreak of Meningitis B (MenB) in the South East of England, that has impacted students in Kent.

It is important you are aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis.

Meningitis is a rare infection of the membranes in the brain that can be very serious if not treated quickly. The onset of illness is often sudden and early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are vital.

Early symptoms 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 diarrhoea

• joint and muscle pain

• dislike of bright lights

• very cold hands and feet

• seizures

• confusion/delirium

• extreme sleepiness/difficulty waking

These symptoms can appear in any order. You do not always get all the symptoms.

Call NHS 111 for advice if you're not sure if it's anything serious or you think you may have been exposed to someone with meningitis.

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

Small everyday habits can make a big difference to prevent infection:

• Wash you hands regularly, using soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially after eating, blowing your nose/coughing and using the bathroom.

• Don’t share vapes, cigarettes and drinks, as that is the quickest way to pass on infections.

For general health inquiries and help with registering with a GP, you can contact UAL’s Student Health team: studenthealth@arts.ac.uk.

You can find the latest updates on this situation at the UK Health Security Agency (UK HSA) website.

For students in UAL Halls, you can find further advice and guidance on their website.