Information on Outbreak of invasive Meningococcal Disease

Dear Parent/Guardian,

This is to inform you about a recent outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in South East England.

Meningococcal disease is an uncommon but is a serious illness caused by meningococcal bacteria, which can lead to meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain) and septicaemia (blood poisoning). The onset of illness is often sudden, and early diagnosis and treatment are vital.

What are the symptoms to look out for?

symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia can include:

a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass
sudden onset of high fever
severe and worsening headache
stiff neck
vomiting and diarrhoea
joint and muscle pain
dislike of bright lights
very cold hands and feet
seizures
confusion or delirium
extreme sleepiness or difficulty waking.

If you or someone you know develops symptoms of meningitis or septicaemia, seek medical help urgently by going to the nearest Accident and Emergency department or calling 999.

Please note we are only able to offer the Men B vaccine to children under the age of 2. We are unable to offer the Meningitis Vaccine privately.

Unsure if you or your child has had the MenACWY Vaccine?

Read the below information:

1. Vaccination History

Your vaccination history should be available on the NHS App if you have access to your medical record.
Please check the NHS app to confirm you are up to date with your vaccines.

2. MenACWY Vaccine (Teenagers)

If you are secondary school aged and missed your MenACWY vaccine (usually given around age 13), you should arrange to catch up.
You can contact the Surrey School Immunisation Team via the Surrey Child and Family Health Single Point of Access at 0300 247 0025 or by email at scfh.immunisations@HCRGCareGroup.com. This team coordinates school-age vaccinations across Surrey, including catch-up clinics and outbreak response.

If you believe your child may need meningitis vaccination, please contact a nearby private vaccination clinic or pharmacy for further advice.

For more information, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/