“Mam, Have I Gotten the Meningitis Vaccine?”
By Katie McShane
A very real message I sent my mother this week. If you’re anything like me, your ignorant, privileged bliss was broken by the tragic news of a meningitis outbreak amongst students in Kent. Since my message to home was a bust (We’ve lost my immunisation card), I’ve found myself googling phrases such as “Meningitis first symptoms” and “What is the difference between Meningitis B and what I can assume is only called normal meningitis?” And judging by my FYP, I’m not the only student now preoccupied with checking my neck for stiffness.
Over the last two weeks, the M word has been cropping up everywhere. The news, social media, the radio at work, the girls’ groupchat, and even from my co-worker, Robert. My imagined illusion of safety is gone. Can I no longer bust a move in Kremlin without fear of being infected? Should I pause before sharing my pen in tutorials?
Coincidentally, the B in Meningitis B stands for bacterium neisseria meningitidis, which is Latin for bad bacteria infection. Now, my Biomed flatmates have tried to explain the difference between viruses and bacterial infections a thousand times. With little confidence, I can tell you that viruses are caused by something called a virus and bacteria by bacteria, which you may have known already. Luckily, bacterial infections are usually treatable with antibiotics; in the case of Men B, patients also receive immediate hospital care. Close contacts also may receive oral antibiotics as a preventative measure, which is what is currently occurring in Kent.
Preventative measures are the way to go with Men B, something I obviously knew, hence my WhatsApp message. I’ve found it’s good to know whether you’ve been vaccinated or not. I’m not the person to ask further on this however, because I haven’t a clue.
Anybody can get Meningitis, it’s very inclusive; however, it likes students the best. This is because they both like the same hobbies. The risk of Meningitis is increased when you live in each other’s pockets as uni students do, sharing flats and accommodations. It can spread through kissing and sharing cigarettes and vapes so there goes the weekend plans. And preys on weakened immune systems, a big hit when all recent conversations have included “yeah, I feel like everyone is sick at the moment”, (anyone else remember the Queens glandular fever outbreak a few weeks ago).
It’s easy to fearmonger and self-diagnose; I mean, have you seen Aoife O’Farrell’s Snapshot stories? People give her the last rites every other day. But it is also easy to bury your head in the sand and inadvertently get sand meningitis. Which is why we should find the educated middle ground, the person who knows how to stay safe from Men B without thinking they have it every time they get a headache.
It’s a dangerous world out there, or so I’ve heard. Stay safe and God Bless from your favourite fake doctor.
