MP who survived meningitis presses PM on outbreaks

An MP who survived bacterial meningitis as a teenager has urged the government to do more to protect young people following recent cases.

Alison Griffiths raised the issue during Prime Minister's Questions after four young people contracted meningitis in cases connected to the same wider social network in Reading, Berkshire.

Sir Keir Starmer agreed to arrange a meeting with the new Health Secretary, James Murray, and the charity Meningitis Now after she called for greater urgency on prevention.

Last week, Lewis Waters, who attended The Henley College in Oxfordshire, died after contracting the infection.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has since confirmed a fourth linked case involving a pupil at Westwood Farm Junior School in Reading, who it said was recovering well.

Two other cases were previously reported at Reading Blue Coat School and Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre.

Griffiths, Conservative MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, told the MPs she was put in a coma after contracting bacterial meningitis at the age of 19.

She said she lost 70% of her hearing and later required open heart surgery.

In her statement, she said: "The recent outbreaks in Reading, Canterbury and Weymouth are a stark reminder that meningitis remains a very real threat.

"We cannot continue responding only after tragedy strikes."

During PMQs, Griffiths asked what the government's "next steps" would be following the outbreaks and called for meningitis to become a priority for the Health Secretary.

The prime minister said he would arrange the meeting and make the issue a priority, adding: "Vaccines do save lives and we must do everything we can in relation to that."

Tom Nutt, chief executive of Meningitis Now, said Lewis Waters's death showed why ministers should "do all they can to prevent this devastating disease".

UKHSA has said the risk to the wider local population remains low, but urged people to be aware of meningitis symptoms including fever, severe headache, stiff neck, vomiting, confusion and a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass.