According to a UK Health Security Agency study, meningitis B cases among students in England are on the rise and have surpassed pre-pandemic levels (UKHSA).
Meningococcal group B bacteria are a leading cause of potentially fatal illnesses such as meningitis and sepsis.
While the majority of individuals recover, some may die.
Others may have lasting disabilities as a consequence, such as brain damage, epilepsy, hearing loss, or limb loss.
During the pandemic, lockdowns used to control the spread of Covid-19 resulted in a decrease in the prevalence of other infectious illnesses.
According to specialists, meningitis rates were at an all-time low until September of last year.
However, there has been a significant rise in meningitis B incidence among teenagers and young adults in England since then.
According to an early pre-print research from the UKHSA, instances have increased, especially among university students.
Those aged 15 to 19 accounted for 41.5 percent of meningitis cases during that period, compared to 11.8 percent and 14.3 percent over the same period in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
The UKHSA study emphasizes that the number of cases in this age group in 2021 (22) was more significant than the equivalent periods in 2018 (16) and 2019. (19).
According to the report, 84.6 percent (22/26) of the IMD cases diagnosed among the 15- to 19-year-old and 20- to 24-year-old age groups from September to November 2021 were students enrolled in a further or higher education institution.
Almost 80% of the cases were caused by meningitis B.
Post-lockdown Rebounding Infection, As We’ve Been Warned last Year
Experts claimed the increase in cases highlighted the dangers of a post-lockdown infectious illness rebounding, which organizations such as the Meningitis Research Foundation warned about last year.
This early evidence of a dramatic surge in MenB cases among teens and young adults, surpassing pre-pandemic levels for individuals aged 15 to 19, is critical to highlight, as stated by Linda Glennie, director of research, evidence, and policy at the Meningitis Research Foundation. While the numbers may look minor, meningitis may have life-changing consequences for everyone who develops it, which is why it is critical to watch any indications of a resurgence in cases.
According to UKHSA statistics, students, especially those living on campus, are at a greater risk of meningococcal illness than their peers.
Students, young people, and their families must be alert to the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicemia.
Meningitis spreads quickly, so it’s vital to notify someone if you’re sick and get immediate medical attention.
According to the UKHSA report, the increase in instances may be due to a mix of variables, including high levels of transmission among young individuals and an “immunity debt” caused by lockdowns, which limited the opportunity for meningococcal exposure and transmission among teenagers.
The paper continues that a reduced level of immunity might contribute to the dramatic rise in IMD cases after returning to universities. Yet, serological analysis of the population would be required to quantify any changes in immunity during the Covid-19 epidemic.
Prof Ray Borrow, one of the paper’s authors and head of the UKHSA’s vaccine evaluation unit, stated that while this is preliminary data, experts must continue to monitor all strains of invasive meningococcal disease given the impact social distancing and other Covid responses have had in limiting natural circulation, blocking both the benefits and harms of exposure to these bacteria, which can lead to a lack of immune stimulation within the population.
