Strain Identified in Kent Can Cause Severe Complications and Fatalities if Untreated
Health officials have confirmed that some cases in Kent involve a meningitis B outbreak that has resulted in two deaths among young people and hospitalized 11 others.
What is meningitis B?
Meningitis is an infection affecting the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by various bacteria and viruses. Meningitis B, or MenB, is the most common form of invasive meningococcal disease and is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus.
This bacterium often resides harmlessly in the throats of individuals but can lead to life-threatening illness if it enters the bloodstream or spinal fluid.
What are the symptoms?
MenB can develop rapidly. Early symptoms may not always be evident but can include a sudden high fever, stiff neck, severe and worsening headache, and a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass. Additional symptoms may include sensitivity to bright lights, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, joint and muscle pain, delirium, and extreme drowsiness.
How serious is it?
MenB can be fatal. The meningococcal bacteria can cause inflammation of the brain's lining and septicaemia, which may quickly progress to sepsis. Early detection and antibiotic treatment typically result in full recovery for most patients. However, approximately 10% of infected individuals die, and survivors may experience long-term complications such as hearing loss, amputation, epilepsy, or learning disabilities.
How many people get MenB each year?
The disease is most prevalent among infants under one year old and teenagers. According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), in 2024-25, there were 391 cases of invasive meningococcal disease, with 80% (313 cases) attributed to MenB.
How contagious is it?
MenB spreads through prolonged close contact, typically via coughing, sneezing, or kissing. Professor Paul Hunter of the Norwich School of Medicine, University of East Anglia, explains that teenagers' increased risk is often linked to moving away from home and living in crowded environments.
“About 10% of people carry the bacteria at any one time and this is even higher among teenagers,” he said. “The infection is spread between people during close contact such as living in the same household or whilst kissing (mouth to mouth).”
He added: “There is a lag from exposure to when people get ill, which is typically under a week, but can be as long as 10 days.
“If you had a single case, you would tend to only contact the family and give antibiotics to them. If you had two cases in a class, in a school, you would give antibiotics to the whole class. If you had two cases in a school, not in the same class, you would give antibiotics to the whole school.
“When you realise you have a significant problem, getting antibiotics into people is important. You can go from being mildly ill walking around to being dead in less than a day.”
Hunter said that seeing a cluster of cases was not unusual, with 300-400 cases of invasive meningitis typically recorded in a year. “We see clusters all the time,” he said. “What’s unusual is the size of this cluster. That’s the scary thing.”
It remains unclear what has caused such a large outbreak. Hunter suggested,
“It could be that there is a new more virulent strain, or due to what was happening at the nightclub.”
How is it treated?
Treatment for meningitis includes administration of antibiotics, intravenous fluids, oxygen if breathing difficulties occur, and in some cases steroid medication to reduce brain swelling.
Is there a vaccine?
Since 2015, the MenB vaccine has been offered to babies at eight weeks, with a second dose at 12 weeks and a booster at one year. Other routine childhood vaccines, such as the 6-in-1 and pneumococcal vaccines, also provide protection against meningitis. The MenACWY vaccine, which covers four other meningococcal groups, is offered to teenagers in school years 9 and 10 and can be administered up to age 25. However, teenagers born before 2015 have not been vaccinated against MenB.
Why haven’t teenagers been vaccinated?
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommends vaccinations based on current research regarding disease prevalence, vaccine effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness.
Despite MenB accounting for 80% of invasive meningococcal disease cases, the JCVI has not previously considered MenB vaccination for teenagers to be cost-effective. This is because the vaccine does not prevent bacterial transmission between individuals, does not cover all MenB strains, and provides limited duration of protection.
The Meningitis Research Foundation advocates for NHS vaccination of young people against MenB, prioritizing those at highest risk, followed by a booster program for teenagers starting in 2030. It also calls for more affordable private vaccination options. Private MenB vaccines in the UK cost between £100 and £120 per dose, with a full two-dose course costing approximately £200-£240. Boots offers two doses for £220.
Should teenagers living near the Kent outbreak be vaccinated?
Some experts support catch-up vaccinations to reduce the risk of further outbreaks. Professor Emma Wall, clinical research group leader at the Francis Crick Institute and clinical professor of infectious diseases at the Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, stated:
“Vaccination can be a very useful tool to reduce onward transmission of this bacteria and reduce the risk of a secondary outbreak in students or related communities. Protection from the vaccine is rapid.”
What should you do if you think you’ve been exposed to MenB?
The UKHSA advises that anyone experiencing symptoms of meningitis or septicaemia should seek urgent medical attention at the nearest emergency department or by calling 999. Individuals who attended Club Chemistry in Canterbury between 5 and 7 March are urged to come forward for antibiotic treatment.
