Meningitis: Kent outbreak “passes peak” as one new suspected case is reported in northwest England

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Source: BMJ

Original: http://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj.s557.short?rss=1...

Published: 2026-03-23T06:11:07-07:00

An outbreak of meningitis B in Kent, in which two young people have died, has passed its peak.[1] The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) reported a suspected case of meningococcal meningitis at St John Rigby's College in Orrell, Wigan, North West England.[1] The college confirmed there was no known link between the Wigan case and the Kent outbreak.[1] All close contacts of the student in Wigan have been identified and offered antibiotics as a precaution.[1] No one who has not yet been identified and contacted needs antibiotics.[1] Health agencies in Kent reported a total of 29 cases of meningitis, including 20 confirmed cases of meningitis B, which spread mainly among University of Kent students and local school students.[1]