Kent Meningitis Cases Climb to 34 as Vaccination Centres See Long Queues and Fifth Site Opens

The number of confirmed or suspected cases of meningitis in Kent has increased to 34, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reports, as hundreds of people continued to queue for vaccinations following a rapidly spreading outbreak that has already claimed two young lives.

UKHSA confirmed 23 laboratory-positive cases, with 11 additional notifications still under investigation. The outbreak, first made public on Sunday, March 15, has primarily affected young people in the Canterbury area, with two fatalities – one a sixth-form pupil at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham and the other a student at the University of Kent.

A fifth vaccination centre opens today at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, joining existing sites at the University of Kent sports centre and Kent and Canterbury Hospital in Canterbury, Faversham Health Centre, and Vicarage Lane Clinic in Ashford. Since vaccinations began on Wednesday, March 18, a total of 8,002 people have received the MenACWY vaccine, while 12,157 individuals have been given antibiotics as a precautionary measure.

Long queues have formed outside vaccination sites as early as 05:00 GMT on March 22, with students and residents expressing concern and determination to protect themselves and others. Anya Trickett, who arrived first at the University of Kent site, said she had been turned away from a hospital clinic the previous day despite it being scheduled to remain open until 17:00. “I found that ridiculous,” she told BBC South East. Other students, including Maria, 22, studying drama and theatre, and Bradley, 20, studying sport and exercise science, described widespread worry and emphasised the importance of rapid uptake.

Prof Shamez Ladhani of UKHSA told the BBC the outbreak was following an expected pattern for this type of meningococcal disease, which spreads through close contact rather than airborne transmission like influenza or COVID-19. He stressed that the general public remains at baseline risk and that the response has been swift and effective.

The University of Kent’s vice-chancellor, Prof Georgina Randsley de Moura, described the week as “incredibly difficult” for the community in a letter to students, expressing deep sympathy for those grieving and unwell. She praised the “incredible” clinical response and hoped the speed of intervention would offer some comfort.

Five schools in the Canterbury area have now been linked to confirmed or suspected cases: Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham, Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford, Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys in Canterbury, the Canterbury Academy, and one additional school where a student later tested negative.

Meningitis, particularly meningococcal group B or C strains, can progress rapidly and is potentially fatal if untreated. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, sensitivity to light, and a distinctive rash. Health authorities continue to urge anyone with symptoms to seek immediate medical attention.

The outbreak has prompted cancellations of events, quieter streets in Canterbury, and business adjustments, with some venues choosing to remain closed until public safety is assured. The swift vaccination rollout and antibiotic distribution reflect lessons from past outbreaks, aiming to contain spread through close contacts and high-risk settings such as universities and schools.

UKHSA and local health teams continue to monitor the situation closely, with further updates expected as case numbers and vaccination coverage are tracked.