Kent meningitis outbreak: UCU calls for work from home guarantee

The University and College Union (UCU) has called for a vaccination programme to be expanded further amid a fast-spreading meningitis outbreak in Kent.

Staff working at Canterbury Christ Church University, which has so far resisted introducing restrictions on in-person teaching, should also be allowed to work from home, the union said.

A total of 27 cases have now been confirmed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) since the weekend, with experts describing the rate of infection as concerning.

Among the newly diagnosed cases are a student who attended an animation college in London, which officials said directly linked to the outbreak in Canterbury. It is understood the student is in hospital receiving treatment.

On 18 March, Canterbury Christ Church also confirmed its first case of the disease, which can lead to sepsis and be fatal.

While the University of Kent, where the majority of cases have been confirmed, has either postponed or moved exams online during the outbreak, CCCU has continued to operate as usual.

UCU said it has written to the university calling on management to ensure staff will face no disciplinary action if they choose to stay away from campus amid the outbreak.

CCCU has stressed it is following UKHSA guidelines that say there is a low risk of transmission and normal planned activities can continue on campus including teaching, placements and research activities.

On a visit to the University of Kent campus on 19 March, health secretary Wes Streeting gave a similar message, insisting “there is no reason for me to be the fun police today and tell students across the country that they shouldn’t be going out this weekend,” BBC News reported.

He also announced that the government has expanded the vaccination programme which was originally only offered to students in university halls of residence at Kent, and will now be offered to anyone who was at the local venue, Club Chemistry, between 5 and 15 March.

This includes CCCU students, who will be offered jabs for the first time, but UCU has called on the government to expand the programme more widely, particularly given cases are now being confirmed outside Kent.

Jo Grady, general secretary of UCU, said that CCCU should take a “precautionary approach”.

“University staff and students are rightly very concerned about the meningitis outbreak, especially those living and working in Kent. As the union representing university staff, we have told every one of our members at CCCU we will back their decision to work remotely if they do not feel safe,” Grady said.

“All universities across the UK need to work with union health and safety reps and reassure their staff and student bodies they are monitoring the situation closely and taking every precaution to ensure campuses remain safe.”

Canterbury Christ Church was contacted for comment.

juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com