This blog post was checked and updated in April 2026.
This blog post was first published during an outbreak of meningococcal disease (MenB) in Kent. It explained what to do, where you could get antibiotics if you were affected and who was being offered a vaccine.
What is meningococcal disease?
Meningococcal disease is a serious but uncommon illness caused by meningococcal bacteria. It can lead to meningitis - inflammation of the lining of the brain - and sepsis. The onset can be sudden, which is why knowing the signs and symptoms, and acting quickly, is so important. There are multiple strains of meningococcal bacteria - MenA, MenB, MenC, MenW, MenX, MenY.
What cases did we identify in the March 2026 outbreak in Kent?
The outbreak in Kent was linked to a strain of MenB. The case numbers can be found here. Sadly, 2 people died.
How is meningitis spread?
Transmission of MenB requires close and prolonged contact to spread including living in the same household and intimate contact such as kissing or sharing drinks or vapes. The bacteria are not as contagious as other infections such as measles and COVID-19.
How do the bacteria enter the body?
The meningococcal bacteria that cause meningitis and blood poisoning can live harmlessly in the back of the nose or throat. When this happens, the person is called a ‘carrier’: they have the bacteria in their body but feel completely well.
Carrying the bacteria is more common among young people, particularly teenagers and university students. This is because they tend to spend a lot of time in close contact with new people (in halls of residence, for example) which makes it easier for bacteria to pass from person to person.
In most cases, carrying the bacteria causes no harm at all. Very occasionally, though, the bacteria can get past the body's natural defences in the nose and throat, enter the bloodstream, and cause serious illness such as meningitis or blood poisoning. This is most likely to happen soon after someone first picks up the bacteria.
Read our technical briefing on meningococcal bacteria.
What was different about this incident?
Around 300 to 400 cases of meningococcal disease are diagnosed in England every year. It is therefore reasonable to ask why this particular outbreak attracted such attention. The answer lies in the way the disease spread.
The rapid emergence of cases in this outbreak was genuinely unusual. Fifteen cases emerging within 48 hours is not something we see in a typical meningococcal outbreak: the vast majority of outbreaks managed by UKHSA involve 2 to 4 cases occurring over a longer timeframe.
Our response reflects the pattern and pace of cases identified in this outbreak. Rapid public health action is precisely what prevents outbreaks from becoming larger.
UKHSA scientists will continue to investigate why cases clustered and spread so rapidly over a short period of time. This includes examining whether the unusual pattern was driven primarily by behavioural and environmental factors, by a distinctive feature of the MenB strain involved, by changes in population immunity, or a combination of all-three. As this work progresses. including further genomic, laboratory and population immunity studies, we will continue to publish our findings to help inform future prevention and response efforts.
Who was offered antibiotics?
Preventative antibiotics (also called prophylaxis) were offered to:
- close contacts of those who were confirmed or suspected to have meningococcal disease.
- students at the University of Kent who were normally resident on the Canterbury Campus, including those who travelled home. Some staff living or working in these Halls of Residence were also offered preventative antibiotics and were eligible for vaccination.
- students who attend other universities in Canterbury, living in halls of residence or off-campus locations where there was a case, and were advised by UKHSA to take an antibiotic due to a close contact.
- sixth form students (years 12 and 13) attending a secondary school or sixth form college in Kent where there was a confirmed or probable case of meningococcal disease informed by local risk assessment.
- anyone who visited or was working at Club Chemistry in Canterbury between 5 March and 15 March, when the venue closed voluntarily.
Vaccines were also offered at local GP practices for those who were eligible but had already left the area.
Why were antibiotics used in the outbreak?
A single course of antibiotics is highly effective in preventing the contraction and spread of this disease in 90% of cases.
Antibiotics played a crucial role in the response to this outbreak in 2 ways:
1. they helped to limit further spread.
2. they treated people who had already become ill.
Antibiotics were not offered to all students. The outbreak response was focused on close contacts and those who attended settings assessed as high risk. Advice on antibiotics was issued to staff and students at the University of Kent, and antibiotics were available at a number of distribution sites on campus.
Who was offered the MenB vaccine?
A targeted vaccination programme was introduced in direct response to this outbreak. Vaccination was extended to everyone who was offered preventative antibiotic treatment as part of the outbreak. The MenB vaccine consists of 2 doses, and the second dose must be given at least 4 weeks after the first for best protection.
Find out more about the MenB vaccine in the outbreak.
What is the risk to the wider public?
The risk of infection to the wider population remains low but we have been actively looking for contacts of people who have MenB (contact tracing) and offering preventative antibiotics to those in close contact with cases.
I was not eligible for the vaccine - what should I do?
If you were not offered the vaccine, you should not be concerned: the risk to the wider public remains low. The MenB bacterium is not as contagious as infections such as measles or COVID-19, and transmission requires close and prolonged contact - such as living in the same household or intimate contact like kissing.
Meningitis has many causes. If you are not eligible for the MenB vaccine, you should still make sure you are up to date with the MMR and MenACWY vaccines, which help protect against future outbreaks of meningitis.
The MenACWY vaccine is offered in school, usually in Year 9. If you have missed it in school, you can get a free catch-up vaccine from your GP surgery.
Did the cases spread outside Kent?
There is no evidence that this outbreak spread further. Individual meningitis cases are not uncommon, but an outbreak of this size is unusual, and this is why additional measures were taken to prevent the spread.
What can I do to protect myself and my children from meningitis?
The most important thing you can do is know the symptoms and act quickly if they appear.
Symptoms to look out for include:
- sudden onset of high fever
- severe and worsening headache
- stiff neck
- vomiting and diarrhoea
- a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop)
- joint and muscle pain
- dislike of bright lights
- very cold hands and feet
- seizures
- confusion or delirium
- extreme sleepiness or difficulty waking
If you or someone you know develops these symptoms, seek medical help urgently by going to your nearest A&E or calling 999. If a friend goes to bed unwell, check on them regularly. Early treatment can be lifesaving.
You can also contact your GP or call NHS 111 if you are concerned, but do not wait - call 999 in an emergency.
Why don't you offer a MenB vaccine to teenagers and young adults?
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) makes decisions on vaccination programmes following careful consideration of independent expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI does not currently recommend a routine MenB booster vaccination for adolescents and young adults. The JCVI routinely reviews new evidence as it emerges and UKHSA will be advising that the JCVI considers this most recent outbreak to confirm their latest advice. UKHSA will provide further advice on other cohorts in due course.
Where can I find further support?
Meningitis Research Foundation
UK: 0808 800 3344
Republic of Ireland: 1800 41 33 44 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)
Meningitis Now
0808 801 0388 (9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 1pm Friday)