Meningitis B cases in Kent, United Kingdom, have dropped to 29 from 34, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Two confirmed deaths include a University of Kent student and a sixth-form pupil from Faversham.
Some initial cases were reclassified following further lab results. The UKHSA expects more downgrades as assessments continue. The outbreak is linked to a nightclub in Canterbury, southeast England, where a staff member may carry MenB.
University staff are distributing face masks and antibiotics. The government is now offering the meningitis B vaccine to eligible students, including those who’ve returned home, through local GPs.
Sherine Thomas, infectious diseases consultant at UKHSA, said preventive antibiotics remain critical for immediate protection, while vaccination ensures long-term defense. Public vigilance on symptoms-such as severe headache, fever, and neck stiffness-remains essential.
Routine MenB vaccination began in 2015 for infants. Those born before May 1, 2015, are not routinely covered unless medically vulnerable. The ECDC assesses broader EU/EEA risk as very low.