Public Health issues advice following Kent and Canterbury meningitis outbreak

Video Description

There are no known cases of Meningitis B in Gibraltar, the Director of Public Health has confirmed. Speaking on Gibraltar Today, Dr Helen Carter says the GHA is on enhanced surveillance and has been in touch with the 19 Gibraltar students attending Kent and Canterbury universities. The Director of Public Health has issued clarification on advice for students and parents, following confirmation that the strain circulating in Kent and the Canterbury outbreak is Meningitis B. Helen Carter encourages all university age students to check their vaccination status and arrange for necessary vaccines whilst in Gibraltar for the Easter break. There are currently two different vaccines available that offer protection against various strains of meningitis. For people born in 2015 or after, vaccination against Meningitis B is offered at age 2 months, 3 months and 13 months. No booster is required and protection is lifelong. This means that university age students will not have been vaccinated against Meningitis B and this vaccine is not currently routinely offered by the GHA or the UK NHS. Like the UK, the GHA will be offering free Meningitis B vaccines to any student of Kent University and Canterbury Christ Church University who has not previously had the vaccine, or who is not able to receive it in the UK before returning to Gibraltar for the Easter break. The Meningitis ACWY vaccine is given to school children in Year 9, and those who didn’t receive it were sent a reminder in their final school year 13. Students who have already received the Meningitis ACWY vaccine do not need to be vaccinated again. The Health Authority states that although these strains are not currently known to be circulating in the Kent / Canterbury outbreak, it 's important to be up to date with vaccination against them because these strains are the most common among university-age students. The GHA is encouraging any Gibraltar students who have not yet received the Meningitis ACWY vaccine to consider arranging vaccination while they are in Gibraltar during the Easter holidays, before returning to university. Check your vaccination status Students and parents can check their vaccination status by contacting the GHA Child Health Department: • by calling 200 03351 between 8am - 12pm on weekdays • by calling 200 07962 between 8am – 4pm on weekdays • by email to [email protected]. Arrange a vaccination Meningitis ACWY (all students) and Meningitis B vaccines (for University of Kent students only) can be arranged through the Primary Care Centre by calling 200 66966 between 9am and 3pm on weekdays. The Director of Public Health, Dr Helen Carter, said: ‘I strongly encourage all university age students to check their vaccination status and arrange for any necessary vaccines whilst in Gibraltar for the Easter break. ‘It’s important to emphasise that there are no known cases linked to Gibraltar and the risk remains relatively low. However, because most university age students will yet not be protected against Meningitis B, it is important to stay informed of local advice in your area, know the symptoms and call 111 for medical advice as soon as these develop. I strongly encourage all University of Kent students from the affected campus to get vaccinated against Meningitis B as soon as possible, either in the UK or here in Gibraltar.” Call 111 as soon as any of the following symptoms develop: • rash • fever • severe headache • vomiting • light sensitivity • neck stiffness