4.4 Protocol D: Two or more related cases (an outbreak) of meningococcal meningitis

Cases of meningococcal disease will be considered related and an outbreak declared if the following applies:

(i) Two confirmed or probable cases within a four week period which are, or could be, caused by the same bacterial strain.
(ii) Two confirmed or probable cases within a three month period which are, or could be, caused by the same bacterial strain and with close links between cases.

Action Person/Organisation responsible
1. Admit second (or more) case(s) to hospital Student Health Centre / General Practitioner
2. Inform and liaise with the Student Health Centre and University Menigitis Policy Coordinator (UMPC) CCDC
3. Activate the Outbreak Plan and convene (within four hours) the Incident Control Team (see Appendix II ) CCDC / UMPC
4. Consult with the Regional Epidemiologist CCDC
5. Define the Target Group Incident Control Team
6. (a) Offer meningococcal vaccine to the Target Group (if one or more cases is Bacterial strain “C”), as soon as possible
(b) Check for acute illness in the Target Group
(c) Issue preventative antibiotics to the Target Group, as soon as possible		 CCDC / Student Health Centre
7. Issue, a previously prepared communication (6), as soon as possible, to students in the same residence and on the same course CCDC / Student Health Centre
8. Issue a previously prepared communication (7), urgently (same day) to all Colleges and student residences. Update on a regular basis CCDC / UMPC /Academic Secretary
9. Issue a previously prepared press statement and consider holding regular press briefings CCDC / UMPC / Academic Secretary /
Press Relations Manager / NHS Press Officer
10. Alert urgently (same day) local General Practices and Accident & Emergency Departments of acute hospitals CCDC
11. Notify other local FE and HE establishments UMPC / Academic Secretary
12. Alert all General Practices in the health authority as soon as possible (next working day) eg via the public health link CCDC / Student Health Centre
13. Consider convening a meeting with the Target Group should there be a delay in issuing treatment CCDC / Student Health Centre
14. Notify details of the incident to the national meningitis charities CCDC
15. Set up a helpline for students, staff and parents using the local health authority and national meningitis charity helplines as a back-up CCDC
16. Consider informing all Consultants for Communicable Disease Control via the ‘Epinet’ electronic mail system CCDC

Communications