THOUSANDS more youngsters will get meningitis jabs after it emerged an infected patient may have returned to the nightclub at the centre of the outbreak.
Health officials say one person who is now thought to have the disease went back to Club Chemistry for a second visit — potentially infecting other clubbers.
Dozens of students were turned away from the campus vaccine clinic yesterday due to massive demand before its 5pm closing.
And another seven cases were announced, bringing the total number in hospital to 27.
One Kent University student and a local sixth-former have died.
Three cheerleaders from the same squad were also revealed to be in hospital, with the bug gripping Canterbury, in Kent.
Officials have widened the offer of vaccines and medicines to anyone who visited Club Chemistry in the city from March 5 to 15, in a bid to stop the spread.
The UK Health Security Agency said it was “a precaution after one suspected case revisited the nightclub before it shut”.
Previously, only those who visited on March 5, 6 and 7 were included, but officials cannot be sure if the patient was infectious on their second visit.
The offer has also been widened to Year 12 and 13 students at schools with suspected or confirmed cases.
Another 20,000 vaccine doses will also be released to private pharmacies, who say they have been inundated with requests.
Asda Pharmacy said it will offer the meningitis B vaccines at cost, for £150 for the full two-dose course.
It will take bookings online and by phone on a first-come, first-served basis.
Professor Susan Hopkins, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: “By extending the programme, we are taking an additional step to protect those most likely to have been exposed.”
Some frustrated students were turned away from the vaccine centre yesterday, the second day of the roll-out, as it was so busy.
Bystanders said queues had begun at 6am and estimated more than 100 people were sent away shortly after 4pm.
More clinics will open across the county tomorrow.
Students have been encouraged to continue their daily lives with sensible precautions, such as not sharing vapes.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting insisted he is “not the fun police”.
Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield said she felt “like the mayor in Jaws”.
She said: “We want people to go out, but don’t get eaten by a shark.”
What is meningitis?
It can be mistaken as the flu or even a hangover – but knowing the symptoms of potentially deadly meningitis could save your life.
It is the inflammation of the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord and can be caused by meningococcal bacteria and viral meningitis.
If it is not treated quickly, meningitis can cause life-threatening septicaemia (blood poisoning) and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.
The two forms of the disease have different symptoms.
Around 3,200 people a year get bacterial meningitis. One in 10 die and many more are left with life-changing disabilities.
Viral forms of meningitis are less common and rarely life-threatening, but can have lifelong effects.
Infections peak during winter when bugs spread more easily in confined spaces.
Meningitis is usually passed on from people who carry the virus or bacterial form in their throat or nose, but aren’t ill themselves.
It can be spread through kissing, sneezing, coughing and sharing household items such as toothbrushes or cutlery.
It is thought that the bacteria are able to invade the body more easily via the nose and throat during winter due to recent infection with flu virus.
The illness can be caught from someone who is ill with meningitis but this is more rare.
The symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and include:
- A high fever over 37.5 degrees – the average human temperature
- being sick
- a headache
- a blotchy rash that doesn’t fade when a glass is rolled over it
- stiffness, especially in the neck
- sensitivity to bright lights
- drowsiness, irritability or lack of energy
- cold hands and feet
- seizures
