Wes Streeting urges public to ‘keep looking after one another’ as Meningitis cases rise

As hundreds of students queued for a third day to get vaccinated, the Health and Social Care Secretary paid tribute to everyone working to keep cases down, including schools and parents

Wes Streeting has urged the public to “keep looking after one another” as the number of cases linked to the meningitis outbreak in Kent rose to 34.

As hundreds of students queued for a third day to get vaccinated, the Health and Social Care Secretary paid tribute to everyone working to keep cases down.

Some 23 cases have been confirmed alongside a further 11 cases that “remain under investigation”, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said in an update on Saturday morning. Eighteen of the 23 confirmed cases are meningitis B.

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Speaking to this newspaper, he said: “As we mark a week since the first confirmed case of the Kent meningitis outbreak, I want to first take a moment to again share my condolences with the families of the two students who tragically died. And my thoughts remain with all those ill in hospital fighting this terrible disease.

“It has been an incredibly difficult week for those affected and for those working on the front line response to this outbreak. As we look ahead to another challenging week, I wanted to pay tribute to the Herculean efforts of everyone who has worked tirelessly to care for those affected and keep people safe.

“To the UKHSA and other public health officials working to contain the outbreak. The NHS team who stood up a vaccination programme within one day of it being announced, distributed more than 7,000 doses of antibiotics, and those caring for young patients in hospital. The school, college and university staff keeping students and parents informed, helping young people through the distress of this outbreak, and keeping their education going. And the thousands of students, pupils, and other members of the public who have so readily and responsibly come forward for antibiotics and vaccination.

“I am incredibly grateful to you all. Thank you. We are continuing to urge people in Kent and across the country to keep following the advice, keep living your lives, and keep looking after one another.”

The latest figures come as more than 500 people, students and others eligible, lined up outside the University of Kent campus clinic for meningitis B jabs at the start of the weekend.