Royal Oldham Hospital warns of meningitis symptoms amid Kent outbreak
The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, which manages Royal Oldham Hospital, has shared NHS meningitis symptom warnings on Facebook amid a major outbreak in Kent. The outbreak has affected young adults and students, with 20 cases reported to UK Health Security Agency, including 6 confirmed as meningitis B strain. Two people have died in the Kent outbreak. GPs nationwide have been instructed to prescribe antibiotics to anyone who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury between March 5-7, plus University of Kent students. The trust emphasized that meningitis symptoms can include high temperature, headache, stiff neck, and rash that doesn't fade under glass pressure, warning that symptoms develop suddenly and require immediate 999 calls if suspected.