Meningitis B has been confirmed because the pressure behind a number of the instances the in Kent outbreak, which has killed an 18-year-old pupil and a 21-year-old college scholar.
Concerns are rising within the area as a 3rd college confirms {that a} scholar has been admitted to hospital with the illness, whereas the University of Kent has cancelled exams.
The father of Juliette, who was a sixth kind scholar at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, stated their household are “beyond devastated and they have no words to express their loss”.
Juliette’s head trainer, Amelia McIlroy, stated she was “a genuinely caring and attentive listener, a true friend who listened with warmth, respect and sincere interest to her peers and to our staff”.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is advising anybody who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury on March 5, 6 or 7 to return ahead for preventative antibiotic therapy as a “precautionary measure”.
Two websites in Kent have been open for the general public to gather antibiotics on Monday, and an extra two are deliberate to open on Tuesday morning.
At the campus on Monday, college students – a few of whom have been carrying face masks – described their worries as they queued for antibiotics.
What is meningitis B? Symptoms, vaccine and what to keep away from after two die in Kent
Some of the instances have been confirmed as meningitis B, whereas the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which is constant to analyze the outbreak, stated it will affirm the pressure seen in different instances “when we have the full results”.
The majority of younger individuals born earlier than 2015 should not protected towards meningitis B, also called MenB, until they’ve had the jab privately, with it solely launched on the NHS for infants in 2015.
Read the total article right here:
Holly Evans17 March 2026 09:58
Meningitis case in London, studies say
While there have been no confirmed instances exterior of Kent at this stage, KentOn-line studies {that a} lady has been hospitalised in London.
Josh Risby instructed the paper: “Now the slight concern for us is that I’m not a student here, my girlfriend’s not a student here, my sister’s not a student here and she’s come down potentially with meningitis, so where’s that come from?”
The UKHSA’s Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam instructed BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday morning: “As serious and devastating as this current outbreak is, it’s very much contained in the local area in Canterbury and Kent, we’re not seeing this spread more widely.”
Holly Evans17 March 2026 09:46
‘It feels like we’re back in Covid’, student says
Students are queuing for antibiotics at the Senate building on the University of Kent’s Canterbury campus. Most are in face masks or have fashioned face coverings and there is an anxious mood among them, with some social distancing being maintained.
Harvey Bennett, a 21-year-old cell biology masters student from Deal, told The Independent that there is a feeling of “rigidity” among students.
He said: “There’s a little bit of tension, I guess, because obviously we haven’t had anything happen like this before.“I thought I’d come down here today, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Harvey said he wasn’t personally contacted to be told he needed to collect medication but had been told that those who are concerned should come to the Senate building to collect antibiotics.
He stated: “I wasn’t personally contacted, but I have received communications [saying] they are handing out antibiotics and you should come down if you are concerned and if you feel that you need them, and yeah.
“I didn’t realise everyone was going to be wearing face masks down here so I came a little unprepared, but luckily they were handing them out. It definitely feels like we’re back in covid, it’s weird.”
Dan Haygarth17 March 2026 09:44
Outbreak in Kent is ‘unusual’, UKHSA says
Asked about officers being notified of instances on Saturday however no public warning made till Sunday, Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, from the UKHSA, stated: “It’s important to note that this was has been a very rapidly progressing outbreak, and is actually quite unusual for meningococcal outbreaks.
“We tend to see small numbers of cases over a more protracted period of time.
“This is unusual because a large number of cases came to light over essentially a 24-hour period.
“So it was really the first cases were reported on Saturday, but actually more cases came to light on Sunday, and as soon as those additional cases came to light, this is when we made sure that there was information available to the public and to relevant partners and through the NHS.
“It is an unusual outbreak, and it’s important to stress that those individuals who were closest contact with the cases were contacted immediately and were offered preventative antibiotics, as we would expect with any outbreak of meningococcal disease.”
She said “with every single case that was reported to the local public health team, they took urgent action to identify those close contacts”.
Holly Evans17 March 2026 09:27
Simple way to check your meningitis vaccine status amid Kent outbreak
Simple way to check your meningitis vaccine status amid Kent outbreak
A doctor has shared a simple way to check that you have received the meningitis vaccine amid an outbreak in Kent. A university student and a year 13 pupil have died following an outbreak. In a statement, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said 11 other people had fallen ill with signs of symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia. Meningitis B has been confirmed as the strain behind some of the cases in the Kent outbreak. Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Monday (16 March), Dr Amir Khan advised people to use the NHS app to check whether they are vaccinated. Dr Khan said that if you are not vaccinated against the disease, you should contact your GP surgery and they will give you advice on how to receive the jab. “Catching up is really easy,” he said.
Holly Evans17 March 2026 09:21
Why are young people at risk?
According to Meningitis Now, one in four 15 to 19-year-olds carry meningococcal bacteria in the back of their throats, compared with one in 10 of the UK population.
People can carry this harmlessly without becoming unwell but it can be passed from person to person by coughing, sneezing and kissing.
Increased social interaction in this age group means the bacteria can be passed on more easily.
In universities, students can be more vulnerable because of living in more “cramped” housing or halls of residence. Young people also come together from all over the world to live, study and socialise.
Holly Evans17 March 2026 09:12
Queues form outside University of Kent
Queues have already formed outside the University of Kent for students to receive antibiotics.
Given it is a walk-in centre, no appointments are necessary.
A number of people have been seen wearing face masks, similar to those worn during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Our reporter Dan Haygarth will be bringing you all the latest from Canterbury.
Holly Evans17 March 2026 09:05
How does meningitis spread?
Infections that cause meningitis can be spread through coughing, sneezing or kissing.
It is usually caught from those who carry the viruses or bacteria in their nose or throat, or from someone with meningitis, although this is less common.
If it is not treated quickly, it can lead to sepsis, brain or nerve damage, hearing loss or even death.
Some with bacterial meningitis can be left with hearing or vision loss, problems with memory, fits or loss of limbs, even after being treated.
Holly Evans17 March 2026 08:58
University of Kent cancels exams and in-person assessments
A University of Kent spokesperson said on Monday it was taking advice from the UKHSA and communicating with students and staff.
It said that there will be no in-person assessments or exams for students this week.
Holly Evans17 March 2026 08:50
Mapped: Where have instances been confirmed?
Holly Evans17 March 2026 08:40
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/meningitis-outbreak-latest-updates-kent-strain-b2939906.html