A student at a specialist video and special-effects college on the Greenwich Peninsula is “recovering well” after contracting meningitis following the outbreak in Kent, the college has said.
Escape Studios, which is based in Mitre Passage, by the O2, said it had been working with public health teams after the individual had been admitted to hospital.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed on Thursday morning that the case was linked to the outbreak in Kent, which has centred on a nightclub in Canterbury. The agency has said that the risk to the wider population is low.
Escape Studios offers courses in animation, games and visual effects, and works alongside companies such as Industrial Light & Magic, the firm set up by the Star Wars creator George Lucas, and the special-effects workshop Framestore.
It said in a statement: “We have been made aware that an individual attending Escape Studios had been admitted to hospital after contracting meningitis. We understand that the individual is now recovering well, and our Student Services Team is offering support. This case is linked to the wider situation currently being managed in Kent.
“We have been working closely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and local public health teams since being notified.
“This is a public health matter that is not specific to Escape Studios, and the response is being led by the UKHSA. As part of their standard protocol, UKHSA is carrying out contact tracing – close contacts of cases are being contacted directly by UKHSA and provided with advice on what to do next.”
Escape has no connection with the University of Greenwich, which confirmed to The Greenwich Wire that it had not been notified of any cases.
The total number of suspected and confirmed cases is 27, the UKHSA said on Thursday. Two people have died. Nearly 1,500 people have been given vaccines against meningitis.
More information about meningitis is on the NHS website.
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