The meningitis outbreak is being viewed by experts as unprecedented.
Students queuing up for antibiotics at University of Kent (Image: Getty)
More than 2,500 doses of preventative antibioitcs have been dished out to students, close contacts and others, including some of those who attended Club Chemistry, a nightclub linked to the outbreak.
GPs across the country are being advised to prescribe antibiotics to anyone who visited the venue between March 5-7 and to University of Kent students, if they have been advised to seek preventative treatment.
A single tablet of ciprofloxacin can reduce the risk of spreading the virus to a contact by up to 90% in the following 30 days.
Health chiefs are also launching a targeted vaccination programme, starting with up to 5,000 students living at the university’s Canterbury campus.
UKHSA chief executive Susan Hopkins said the outbreak appeared to be “a super-spreader event, with ongoing spread within the halls of residents in the universities”.
She added: “There will have been some parties particularly around this, so there will have been lots of social mixing.
“I can’t yet say where the initial infection came from, how it’s got into this cohort, and why it’s created such an explosive amount of infections.
“I can say that in my 35 years working in medicine, in healthcare and hospitals, this is the most cases I’ve seen in a single weekend with this type of infection.
Students wore face masks as they queued to receive antibiotics (Image: Getty)
“It’s the explosive nature that is unprecedented here. The number of cases in such a short space of time. NHS were initially managing it as a major incident in the region but they have now increased that overlay to having a national-level oversight as well.”
The UKHSA warned that meningococcal disease can progress rapidly, with signs and symptoms including a fever, headache, rapid breathing, drowsiness, shivering, vomiting and cold hands and feet.
It can also lead to septicaemia, which can cause a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass.
Early symptoms can often be confused with other illnesses such as a cold, flu or hangover and students are particularly at risk of missing the early warning signs.
Health chiefs urged anyone who develops symptoms to seek medical help immediately by contacting a GP, calling NHS 111 or dialling 999 in an emergency.
Trish Mannes, UKHSA regional deputy director for the South East, said: “If you think you may have symptoms of meningitis, don’t hesitate to seek medical help by contacting your GP or calling NHS 111. Seeking early treatment can save lives.”