"The hospital admitted to the BBC it had missed an opportunity to alert the UKHSA sooner. It said it had waited until there was a formal diagnosis via a confirmed test."
"Invasive meningitis is classed as an urgent notifiable disease, so under Health Protection Regulations 2010 it is a requirement to report cases to health protection officials as soon as a case is suspected."
"Experts have criticised the delay, saying it may have put people at risk, as earlier health warnings to the public would have meant those subsequently developing symptoms could have sought medical help sooner."
"Of the 23 suspected and probable cases, all of whom are young adults and teenagers, two people have died and four were in intensive care as of Monday."
The NHS took two days to report a meningitis outbreak after the first case was identified at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital. The hospital admitted to missing the opportunity to alert health officials sooner, as there is a legal requirement to report such cases immediately. This delay hindered the tracing of close contacts and the identification of a wider outbreak. Experts criticized the delay, stating it may have endangered others by preventing timely medical assistance for those developing symptoms.
Read at www.bbc.com
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