Cases of meningitis are spreading at unprecedented rates, with experts now suggesting that Covid could be to blame.

The analysis comes after a student has died and two other young people are being treated following an outbreak of meningitis in Berkshire. 

It follows a major outbreak in Kent, linked to a Canterbury night club, that killed two people and left more than a dozen others seriously ill, just eight weeks ago. 

On Thursday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed new cases had been found in Reading and that a sixth-form student from Henley College had died.

One of the cases has been confirmed as Meningitis B - the most dangerous strain of the bacterial infection that claimed the lives of two students in the Kent outbreak. 

This is not the normal pattern. 

Meningitis typically occurs as isolated cases. The question is what's different this time? 

'It's possible that meningitis is becoming more common post-Covid pandemic,' Dr Lindsay Edwards, an expert in immune responses at King's College London said. 

When people regularly catch meningitis B bacteria, they usually live harmlessly in the nose - with around 25 per cent of teenagers and young adults hosting these bugs. 

The problem is, Dr Edwards says, that Covid may have made our cells more susceptible to the bacteria.

'The Covid virus gets inside cells by binding to its receptors,' she explained.

'When this happens, this gives bacteria a chance to also get into the cells - which is why many Covid patients caught secondary bacterial infections like pneumonia. 

'It's possible that many of these young people developing meningitis now may have previously had Covid, and this has left their cells more vulnerable to infections.' 

The infection is also proving to be 'more invasive' than before - experts say - due to a combination of the bacteria itself, human behaviour and the environment. 

Whilst the Kent outbreak appears to have been caused by group B meningococcal bacteria - with one confirmed case relating to the latest outbreak - this is not a single entity. 

Group B encompasses more than a hundred strains, some of which are more likely to cause meningococcal septicaemia - a life-threatening type of blood poisoning that can result in permanent damage to the brain and spinal cord. 

But there are other factors, such as smoking and vaping that are thought to give the opportunistic bacteria a route into the body, by damaging the back of the throat - triggering an epidemic among certain groups. 

Meningitides bacteria also tend to spread more easily within households where people are in close contact for a sustained period of time. 

Nightclubs, boarding schools and university halls of residence make for a potent mixing pot, which can give the bacteria the opportunity spread, but are not unique to the current landscape.

Experts are also beginning to consider whether some people are born more vulnerable and at greater risk of both infection and spreading the infection - a phenomenon dubbed 'super-spreading.' 

These events occur when more are infected than you would normally expect. 

It is also possible that young people who are now starting university are not as resilient against the bacteria, thanks to Covid-era lockdowns. 

'This is one of the most worrying strains of meningitis,' Dr Edwards said. 'It is more virulent and more dangerous than other types because it's able to better hide from our immune system. 

'This means it's more likely to cause sepsis, and can get into the spine or brain, triggering deadly complications.' 

While this seems like the most logical explanation as to why meningitis - an infection that requires close and prolonged physical contact - is causing such rapid outbreaks, experts say it's unlikely to be the sole explanation. 

With regards to the latest outbreak, the UKHSA said: 'We are working closely with partners and have provided public health advice and precautionary antibiotic treatment to close contacts of the cases. 

'Meningococcal disease does not spread easily and the risk to the wider public remains low,' it added. 

So far only one case has been confirmed as meningitis B. Health officials are awaiting further testing results to identify how the cases may be linked. 

Professor Andrew Preston, an expert in infectious disease at the University of Bath, said: 'This latest outbreak highlights that although it is thankfully rare, meningococcal disease remains a very serious one. 

'All current cases appear contained to a well-defined social contact group which enables rapid contact tracing and the administration of antibiotics and vaccination (if deemed a necessary precaution).' 

At this point, there is no evidence that these cases are a spillover from the Kent outbreak, but the UKHSA are cautious the situation could evolve over the coming days. 

The organisation added that young people 'should check that they are up to date with their vaccinations, including the MenACWY vaccine which is offered in school years 9 and 10 but remains free on the NHS until the age of 25, although it does not protect against all strains.' 

(X) The early symptoms of meningitis everyone needs to know 

Early meningitis symptoms can be frustratingly vague - which is why doctors warn the public not to wait for the 'textbook' warning signs before seeking help. 

 Like flu, the illness often begins with a sudden fever, shivering, exhaustion, muscle aches and a general sense of feeling very unwell.

Children and teenagers may complain of severe headaches, nausea, vomiting or light sensitivity. 

In babies, the signs can be even harder to spot. They may refuse feeds, become unusually irritable or lethargic, or be more difficult to wake. 

Because these symptoms overlap with common viral infections, cases are sometimes dismissed in the first crucial hours, But, as Dr Edwards explains, with meningitis, timing can be everything. 

'Time is the biggest pressure here, meningitis symptoms start off mild and then become severe in a matter of hours,' she warned. 

'This means the window of time that patients have to seek medical help is small - that's why it's important that people know the symptoms to look out for.'  

As the infection worsens, the more recognisable symptoms may appear.

These include an intense headache, vomiting, a stiff neck and sensitivity to bright light. People may also become drowsy or confused, struggle to concentrate or develop seizures.

Meningococcal disease can also cause blood poisoning, known as meningococcal septicaemia.

One of its most well-known signs is a purplish rash that does not fade when pressed – often checked by rolling a glass over the skin.

At first the rash may appear as tiny pinpricks, typically on the torso, arms or legs, before spreading into larger bruise-like blotches.

Crucially, this rash is often a late sign – and some patients never develop it at all.