Meningitis: Cases rises to 20 in fatal Kent outbreak amid surging demand for private jabs

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Source: BMJ

Original: http://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj.s526.short?rss=1...

Published: 2026-03-18T06:01:16-07:00

In the Kent region of the United Kingdom, the number of cases of invasive meningococcal disease has risen to 20, of which 9 have been laboratory confirmed as meningococcal and 11 as bacterial strain B.[1][2] The disease claimed the death of one University of Kent student and one pupil from a school in Faversham.[1] Most of those affected are students admitted to the hospital.[1] Some patients had visited the Club Chemistry nightclub in Canterbury on 5-7 March before the onset of symptoms.[1] The UKHSA has launched a targeted vaccination program for up to 5,000 University of Kent students living in halls of residence and is offering antibiotics to close contacts.[1][2] The agency continues to assess the risk and work with schools in the region.[1] Symptoms include fever, headache, rapid breathing, drowsiness, vomiting, and a rash that does not fade under glass pressure.[1]