Health secretary Wes Streeting is due to give a statement to the House of Commons at 12.30pm, after an “unusual” outbreak of meningitis in Kent killed 18-year-old pupil and a 21-year-old university student.
Warnings have been issued that some pharmacies in the region are running out of the MenB vaccine due to a surge in demand, with some places reporting no stock left.
Meningitis B has been confirmed as the strain, with concerns growing in the region after a third school confirmed that a student has been admitted to hospital with the disease.
The father of Juliette, who was a sixth form student at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, said their family are “beyond devastated and they have no words to express their loss”.
Juliette's head teacher, Amelia McIlroy, said 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 anyone who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury on March 5, 6 or 7 to come forward for preventative antibiotic treatment as a “precautionary measure”.
Key Points
- Meningitis B confirmed as strain behind outbreak that has left two dead
- Pictured: 18-year-old Juliette killed by meningitis outbreak
- Students describe situation as 'terrifying' and 'unbelievable'
- What are the symptoms of meningitis?
- Queues form outside University of Kent
- Wes Streeting to give statement at 12.30pm
Epidemiologist not concerned about students travelling home
11:40 , Rebecca WhittakerKeith Neal, Emeritus Professor in the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, University of Nottingham is not concerned about students going home and potentially taking meningitis with them.
“There are very small numbers everywhere across the country over time. Carriage of meningococcal is universal and higher in teenagers, about 20 per cent and most never get ill.”
“Students need to follow the advice they have been given. I would not be concerned if any people from there came to stay over Easter or otherwise. Those at increased risk have/will soon receive antibiotics to clear the meningococcus.”
University student says outbreak has caused 'anxiety'
11:34 , Dan HaygarthA third year University of Kent student told The Independent that he is leaving the campus to return home amid the meningitis outbreak.
Sport therapy and rehabilitation student Malek, 24, who did not wish to give his surname, had just collected his antibiotics and has decided to return home to Hertfordshire.
He said: “I just decided to go grab it [the medicine] because the majority of my friends who went to grab it, they just got it just to be cautious and make sure we don't have anything.
“Both of my parents are at high risk and I'm planning to go back home, so I went to grab it just in case - it's better to be safe than sorry.”
“I'm not going to stay any longer, so I'm just gonna go back home and then see what's happening for the next week.”
About the mood among students at the university, Malek said: “It's stressful, very anxious, I mean, especially with moving all the exams online, we don't know what to expect, how's it going to be running, etc.
“It’s a flashback back to covid, so hopefully everything will be solved and calmed down. He added: “There’s absolutely anxiety [about the outbreak]. As I said, both of my parents are high risk and I don't want to catch anything.”
Wes Streeting to give statement at 12.30pm
11:29 , Holly EvansHealth Secretary Wes Streeting is to give a statement in the House of Commons at around 12.30pm on the meningitis outbreak in Kent.
The MenB vaccine is too ‘expensive’ for a nationwide rollout to teenagers, epidemiologist warns
11:23 , Rebecca WhittakerKeith Neal, Emeritus Professor in the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, University of Nottingham doesn’t think the Meningitis B vaccine should be rolled out to all students.
“It is an expensive vaccine and there are better things to spend the NHS budget on,” he told the Independent.
There are only 400 cases of Meningitis B a year and some of these cases are in children who are already given the vaccine, he explained.
He said: “The risk is highest in babies and we do not have the duration of immunity.“The vaccine does not cover all group B strains. Unlike the ACWY vaccine which stops people carrying the bacteria, the B vaccine does not prevent carriage.”
That means the vaccine doesn’t stop people carrying the bacteria.
Archbishop of Canterbury says deaths are a 'devastating loss'
11:11 , Holly EvansThe new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, has described the deaths of two young people in a meningitis outbreak in Kent as a “devastating loss”.
In a statement published on Tuesday as she prepares to make a pilgrimage from London to Canterbury, Dame Sarah said: “My prayers are with the families of the two young people who have tragically died in the meningitis outbreak in Kent. My heart goes out to them in their devastating loss.
“I’m praying too for all those who’ve been affected by the outbreak, and for everyone working so hard to care for them and protect local communities.”
Dame Sarah will embark on her six-day walk to Canterbury Cathedral on Tuesday afternoon, setting off from St Paul’s Cathedral.
My prayers are with the families of the two young people who have tragically died in the meningitis outbreak in Kent. My heart goes out to them in their devastating loss. I’m praying too for all those who’ve been affected by the outbreak, and for everyone working so hard to care… pic.twitter.com/zPwkZM6BuI
— Archbishop of Canterbury (@ArchbishopSarah) March 17, 2026
Students encouraging each other to seek antibiotics
11:04 , Holly EvansThird year computer science student Daniel Shorter, 21, from Surrey, said he was encouraged by friends to collect antibiotics.
He said: “I think if you're living on campus it’s a bit scarier, but we're off campus, so we don't really [worry].“It's just everyone's messaging us, to go get the antibiotics, that's why we're here.”
He added: “We were supposed to have an exam on Monday. At around 11pm the day before, they said they were getting moved, which is probably not a bad thing.”
How many one-year-olds have received the meningitis vaccine?
10:55 , Holly EvansMood among students either 'mass hysteria' or calm
10:47 , Dan HaygarthSecond year biomedical science student Zyren Distajo, 21, said the mood among students was mixed, with some panicking.
Zyren told The Independent: “I have an immunology exam online later today, and the group chats have been either mass hysteria or people being like ‘oh this is just like covid’.
“It is very interesting going back into this type of situation. But I think a lot of people are just calming down because they realise that everyone being anxious isn't going to do anything.”
Zyren, from Grantham, does believe that the outbreak will have a knock-on effect on student behaviour.
The UKHSA has advised anyone who visited Canterbury’s Club Chemistry on 5, 6, or 7 March to come forward for antibiotics.
About that, Zyren said: “I'm in my second year. I'm less inclined to go clubbing anyway.
“It is definitely more of the first year and year 13 is going out. And I guess that culture's kind of ruined.”
“I think people are just going to be less inclined to talk to strangers and to go out”, Zyren added.
MenB vaccine stock running low, pharmacist warns
10:31 , Rebecca WhittakerSome pharmacies in the Kent area are running out of the MenB vaccine after the outbreak has seen a surge in demand.
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, CEO of the Independent Pharmacies Association explained that those born before 2015, teenagers and young adults, have not been vaccinated against it.
“Pharmacies, particularly in the Kent area are seeing a surge in demand for private meningitis B vaccination but unfortunately are running out of stock (some places no stock left),” she told the Independent.
She added: “Independent Pharmacies Association has called on the NHS to urgently commission pharmacies to deliver a catch-up vaccination programme targeted at university students and teenagers born before 2015.”
What are the different strains?
10:18 , Holly EvansThere are five main strains that cause the disease in the UK.
Men B is the most common and also the most deadly. Health officials have said that at least some cases of meningitis seen in Kent have been confirmed as Meningitis B.
Other strains include MenA, MenC, MenW and MenY, which are also caused by bacteria.
There are many different causes of meningitis, including viruses, bacteria and fungi. However, in the UK, viruses and bacteria are the most common causes.
Other causes of meningitis include some medicines or brain tumours. It can also occur following a skull fracture or head and neck surgery, according to Meningitis Now.
Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis.
Immunologist says strain circulation is most likely cause of outbreak
10:04 , Holly EvansSpeaking on BBC Radio 4, immunologist Sir Andrew Pollard was asked what was the most likely cause of such an outbreak in Kent.
He said: “The most likely explanation for a large outbreak is that there is a strain circulation in which many people present were not immune to it or hadn’t built up enough immunity, and that is common.
“That’s how they survive in human populations, they have to overcome immunity.
“It’s likely this is a B strain, these are the ones most common in the UK at the moment and they are strains we are not vaccinating against in this age group. It was introduced to babies 10 years ago.”
What is meningitis B? Symptoms, vaccine and what to avoid after two die in Kent
09:58 , Holly EvansTwo people have died following an outbreak of invasive meningitis in Kent, as hundreds of people are being urged to get antibiotics to stop the spread of the infection.
Some of the cases have been confirmed as meningitis B, while the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which is continuing to investigate the outbreak, said it would confirm the strain seen in other cases “when we have the full results”.
The majority of young people born before 2015 are not protected against meningitis B, also known as MenB, unless they have had the jab privately, with it only introduced on the NHS for babies in 2015.
Read the full article here:
What is meningitis B? Symptoms, vaccine and what to avoid after two die in Kent
Meningitis case in London, reports say
09:46 , Holly EvansWhile there have been no confirmed cases outside of Kent at this stage, KentOnline reports that a woman has been hospitalised in London.
Josh Risby told 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 told 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.”
'It feels like we're back in Covid', student says
09:44 , Dan HaygarthStudents 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 "tension" 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 said: “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.”
Outbreak in Kent is 'unusual', UKHSA says
09:27 , Holly EvansAsked about officials being notified of cases on Saturday but no public warning made until Sunday, Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, from the UKHSA, said: “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”.
Simple way to check your meningitis vaccine status amid Kent outbreak
09:21 , Holly Evans
Simple way to check your meningitis vaccine status amid Kent outbreak
Why are young people at risk?
09:12 , Holly EvansAccording 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.
Queues form outside University of Kent
09:05 , Holly EvansQueues 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.
How does meningitis spread?
08:58 , Holly EvansInfections 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.
University of Kent cancels exams and in-person assessments
08:50 , Holly EvansA 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.
Update - 11:30am - 16th March
— University of Kent (@UniKent) March 16, 2026
We are continuing to work closely with public health colleagues as well as our partners in the local area as this situation develops.
We have contacted all our students and staff to ensure they have all the latest advice and support they need, and… pic.twitter.com/lDTeKuhOMK
Mapped: Where have cases been confirmed?
08:40 , Holly Evans
UKHSA denies delay in responding to outbreak
08:36 , Holly EvansThe UK Health Security Agency have denied a delay in its response to the MenB outbreak in Kent, after questions were raised about a public announcement only being issued on Sunday.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, from the agency, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the first cases were identified on Saturday and that the agency worked hard to identify close contacts and offer preemptive antibiotics.
She said: “There was certainly no delay in terms of responding to this outbreak, the initial cases were reported on Saturday the 14th of March and with any cases of meningococcus diseases, they are taken extremely seriously.”
She added it had been a “rapidly progressing outbreak” with further cases identified on Sunday, which had been “unusual”.
“I don’t believe there has been any delay in the public health response,” she said.
My friend died of meningitis while at university. Why does it still kill?
08:29 , Holly EvansMy friend Antonia was 18 years old when she died overnight from bacterial meningitis, during her first term at Oxford University, in October 2009. Seventeen years on, there is still not enough being done to inform students about the symptoms and dangers of the disease.
Two people have died following a meningitis outbreak in Kent this weekend – including a University of Kent student – and more than a dozen young people from the Canterbury area have reportedly been taken to hospital.
Although many people are aware meningitis mainly affects babies and children, university students are the second most “at risk” group for the disease. One in four 15-19 year olds will be carrying the meningococcal bacteria at the back of their throats, compared to one in ten of the overall UK population.
Sadly, student deaths from meningitis are not uncommon.
Read the full article from Katy Fallon here:
My friend died of meningitis while at university. Why does it still kill?
Former health minister suggests 'catch up' vaccine campaign for young adults
08:18 , Holly EvansA former health minister said the Government should consider a “catch-up” vaccination campaign for young people in the wake of the meningitis outbreak in Kent.
Helen Whately, Conservative MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, told Times Radio there had been vaccinations against meningitis B for babies since 2015, but those affected by the current outbreak “won’t have been vaccinated as babies in that way because they were born before that”.
She said: “So they do have a vulnerability.
“And one of the things that the Government (and) UKHSA will need to look at is if there is now a greater risk around this outbreak – and in future – should there be some kind of vaccination catch-up for that group.”
Kent MP has questioned 'potential delay' in communications from UKHSA
08:10 , Holly EvansA Kent MP has questioned whether the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) could have communicated with the public sooner about the meningitis outbreak in the county.
Asked whether she had concerns about a “potential delay” in communications, former health minister Helen Whately told Times Radio: “I do, I would like to have UKHSA come forward and explain the timeline there.
“I first heard about the outbreak through picking it up on the internet, on Facebook on Sunday evening, but it sounds like actually they knew about it earlier than that.
“I didn’t get an update myself until I contacted the Health Secretary first thing on Monday morning.
“I then had a briefing from the chief executive of UKHSA, Susan Hopkins, and we spoke about the importance of reaching the school kids, as well as the students from the university because of the mixing.
“But there is a question about could that have been acted on quicker if there’d been more public engagement sooner.”
Ms Whately, the MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, said it was “a good step” that young people were now being given antibiotics, and she called for more communication with parents about whether it was safe for their children to go to school.
Watch: UKHSA doctor confirms Meningitis B behind Kent outbreak
08:05 , Holly EvansWhat are the symptoms of meningitis?
08:03 , Holly EvansMeningitis is an infection of the meninges, the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
Early warning signs of meningitis include a high temperature, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain and stomach cramps.
As the condition develops, it can make people drowsy, irritable and confused, as well as cause severe muscle pain, pale, blotchy skin, spots or a rash, stiff neck, an aversion to bright lights and convulsions or seizures.
Meningitis Now urges people not to wait until someone develops a rash and to seek medical help if someone is ill and displaying these symptoms.
Club owner says she is 'devastated' that visitors had contracted meningitis
08:02 , Holly EvansLouise Jones-Roberts, the owner of Club Chemistry, said that more than 2,000 people would have visited the venue over the three dates.
Those who visited now need tracing for antibiotics.
Ms Jones-Roberts said she believed more than one case was connected to mingling at the club and she had “been told they started showing symptoms on March 10.”
Ms Jones-Roberts said she had managed to contact around 90 out of 95 members of staff at the club and they had gone to get antibiotics.
She added: “I’m devastated for the families affected. It’s so incredibly sad.]
“I just really hope people know the symptoms and no more lives are lost.”
She said the club would remain closed until further notice, adding: “It is not a hard decision to close – we are talking about people’s lives.”
Ms Jones-Roberts later told the BBC that a member of staff at the nightclub is one of the confirmed cases.
She said: “He is in hospital, he is being treated and he’s awaiting further tests to see if the treatment he’s had has improved his condition.
“We’ve got two other members of staff who are currently in A&E with suspected meningitis, and we’re just waiting for the update from them for their test results.”
Students describe situation as 'terrifying' and 'unbelievable'
07:56 , Holly EvansAt the campus on Monday, students – some of whom were wearing face masks – described their worries as they queued for antibiotics.
Matthew McDonagh, 16, and his brother Luca, 17, were at a party in Whitstable, Kent, on Saturday with one person who has now been diagnosed with the infection.
Another person from their friendship circle was already in an induced coma after recently contracting meningitis.
Luca, who is in Year 13, said no-one in his year group at Simon Langton Grammar School is allowed to go in for lessons.
He and his brother, who is also at the same school, were told to come to the University of Kent to receive a precautionary antibiotic.
Matthew said: “It’s quite scary. Like, just like, I can’t believe it. It’s just insane…
“It’s completely unbelievable. I never thought this would happen again (after Covid).
“We’ve been told that we don’t even know if the pill that they give you is actually going to help us.”
Luca added: “It’s pretty terrifying.”
Meningitis B confirmed as strain behind outbreak that has left two dead
07:49 , Holly EvansSome cases of meningitis seen in Kent have been confirmed as meningitis B, health officials have said, as hundreds of people are being urged to get antibiotics to stem the spread of infection.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which is investigating the outbreak that left two young people dead and others in hospital, said it would confirm the strain seen in other cases “when we have the full results”.
Young people born before 2015 are not protected against meningitis B unless they have had the jab privately. It was introduced on the NHS for babies in 2015.
It comes as hundreds of people who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury on March 5, 6 or 7 were told to come forward for preventative antibiotic treatment as a “precautionary measure”.
Pictured: 18-year-old Juliette killed by meningitis outbreak
07:48 , Holly EvansThe father of an 18-year-old girl killed by a meningitis outbreak in Kent has said that their family are "beyond devastated and they have no words to express their loss".
Juliette, who was a sixth form pupil at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham, died on Saturday from the infection.
Her head teacher, Amelia McIlroy, said 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".
"In short, she was a lovely girl," she added.
