Two people have died from meningitis in Kent, and another 18 people are confirmed or suspected to have the disease as part of an "unprecedented" outbreak.

As a precaution more than 2,500 doses of antibiotics have been given to those who may have been exposed, and 5,000 students at the University of Kent are being offered the Meningitis B vaccine.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC that health officials are "proactively managing" the situation, and said the general risk to the wider population was low.

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

It can affect anyone but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults. It can be very serious if not treated quickly.

The cause of the infection - either certain bacteria or viruses - can be determined by tests.

Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis. It can lead to blood poisoning or sepsis, and can affect the brain.

This acute, severe infection is known as invasive meningitis. It means the infection has invaded into the blood stream or brain linings.

Meningitis B, or MenB, is the strain behind most cases of meningococcal disease in the UK, including the latest deaths in Kent.

In the most recent full year, 2024-2025, there were 378 cases of invasive meningococcal disease, according to official data.

Although the current meningitis outbreak has been declared a national incident, that does not mean the infection is spreading beyond Kent. Reacting in this way is an operational decision that lets health authorities bring in staff and antibiotics from across the country.

Two vaccines protect against the main causes of meningitis and septicaemia.

The MenACWY vaccine offers protection against four types of bacteria that can cause meningitis - meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y - and is offered to teenagers aged 14 years old. Anyone who missed out can get it for free until their 25th birthday.

The MenB vaccine helps protect against meningococcal group B bacteria and is recommended for babies aged eight weeks, followed by a second dose at 12 weeks and a booster at one year.

The vaccines do not contain any live bacteria and cannot cause meningitis.

Meningitis can sometimes occur as a complication of some other infections, meaning several other vaccinations can also help protect people.

A six-in-one vaccine given to young children - also known as the DTaP/IPV/Hib/Hep B vaccine - offers protection against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).

A pneumococcal vaccine offers babies protection against serious infections caused by pneumococcal bacteria, including meningitis.

The MMRV vaccine - which replaced the MMR vaccine in January 2026 - offers infants protection against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.

The MMR vaccine is free for anyone who missed getting it when they were younger, regardless of their age.

Generally, it takes a couple of weeks to get the fullest protection from a vaccine and some require booster doses.

The MenB vaccine was added to the UK NHS childhood immunisation programme for babies born on or after 1 July 2015.

That means current teenagers and young adults have not had it.

Young babies are vaccinated because they are more likely to get invasive infections more often than other age groups, and their bodies are less likely to be able to fight them off.

However, research suggests the MenB vaccine doesn't necessarily prevent transmission of the infection from person to person, doesn't target all the different B bacteria strains and doesn't provide protection for particularly long.

UK vaccine experts have therefore concluded that it isn't cost effective to offer the MenB vaccine to adolescents, and the NHS does not currently offer a catch-up programme.

Health Secretary Streeting said he had asked the government's vaccination advisors to consider whether that should change.

In the meantime, given the severity of the situation in Kent, the UK Health Security Agency said it may expand the current targeted vaccination programme beyond students if necessary.

Some parents have paid to vaccinate their teens privately. High street pharmacies offer a full course of two doses for around ยฃ220.

Streeting said it was not surprising that some people had chosen to do this, but that it was "not necessary".

Symptoms can develop suddenly and can include:

Outbreaks of meningococcal disease are rare, but can occur in settings where people group together, such as college campuses or entertainment venues.

Some people carry the bacteria in their nose or throat without getting sick, but can spread it to others through the exchange of spit or saliva in coughs, sneezes and kissing, or by sharing vapes.

The infection can also be spread by someone with meningitis, although this is less common.

It's possible to get meningitis more than once.

The best way to stop the disease spreading is to give antibiotics to people who may have come into contact with it.

In Kent, free antibiotics are being offered to people who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury on March 5, 6 and 7, or are close contacts of confirmed cases.

People who live on the University of Kent campus at Canterbury are also eligible.

Anyone becoming unwell with symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia should seek medical help urgently at the closest Accident and Emergency Department or by dialling 999.

Early treatment can be lifesaving.

Students in the affected area of Canterbury are being advised to trust their instincts, and not wait for all symptoms to appear or for a rash to develop before seeking help via their GP or the 111 service. They are also asked to check on friends who feel unwell.

"Students are particularly at risk of missing the early warning signs of meningitis because they can be easily confused with other illnesses such as a bad cold, flu or even a hangover," warn health officials.

A university student describes returning home to Birmingham after a meningitis outbreak in Kent.

The suspected case of meningococcal disease, which can lead to meningitis, has been detected in a student at a Belfast school.

Questions are being asked about whether the NHS and authorities should have raised the alarm sooner.

Ella Moulsdale knew almost nothing about meningitis when she fell sick at Bath Spa University.

Sophia Speirs nearly died from Meningitis B after falling ill while studying at university in 2023