Two people have died from meningitis in Kent, and another 27 people are confirmed or suspected to have the disease as part of an “unprecedented” outbreak.
As a precaution, antibiotics and doses of the Meningitis B vaccine are being offered to thousands of people who may have been exposed to the disease, including some university students and school pupils in the area.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC that health officials are “proactively managing” the situation, and said the general risk to the wider population was low.
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What are meningitis and ‘invasive’ meningitis?
Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
It can affect anyone but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults. It can be very serious if not treated quickly.
The cause of the infection – either certain bacteria or viruses – can be determined by tests.
Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis. It can lead to blood poisoning or sepsis, and can affect the brain.
This acute, severe infection is known as invasive meningitis. It means the infection has invaded into the blood stream or brain linings.
Meningitis B, or MenB, is the strain behind most cases of meningococcal disease in the UK, including nine of the confirmed cases in the current outbreak in Kent.
In the most recent full year, 2024-2025, there were 378 cases of invasive meningococcal disease, according to official data.
Doctors across England have been alerted to the signs and symptoms of meningitis.
And the NHS is coordinating a national response, by bringing in staff, antibiotics and vaccines to help stop the outbreak in Kent .
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