A student has died following a suspected meningococcal disease outbreak in the Home Counties, with health officials confirming that two other people are currently receiving treatment.
The case has been linked to a student who attended Henley College in Oxfordshire, according to a local GP surgery.
The Hart Surgery in Henley-on-Thames said it had been informed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) that a student had died with suspected meningococcal infection. It added that close contacts of the affected individual are being contacted and offered precautionary antibiotics.
Health authorities stressed that the number of confirmed cases remains very low and that there are currently no plans for a mass vaccination programme at the college or in the local area.
The UKHSA said it is working with NHS partners and local authorities after three suspected cases of meningococcal infection were identified in young people in Reading.
Officials have confirmed that one case involves meningitis B, the same strain linked to a previous cluster of fatal infections in Kent earlier this year.
Dr Rachel Mearkle, a consultant in health protection, said meningococcal disease does not spread easily and requires very close contact, adding that the risk to the wider public remains low.
She said health teams are supporting affected families and students, while precautionary antibiotics are being provided to close contacts to reduce further risk.
Despite the seriousness of the case, UKHSA has reassured the public that there is currently no evidence of a large outbreak and that normal college activities can continue.
Source: Sky News
