What has happened
Between 13 and 16 March 2026, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed 15 cases of invasive meningococcal disease in the South East of England. Most cases involve students from the University of Kent and sixth-form students from local secondary schools in the Canterbury area. A number of cases are linked to attendance at a Canterbury nightclub (Club Chemistry) on 5–7 March. Two people have sadly died. The situation is being actively monitored and guidance may be updated.
This outbreak is centred in Canterbury. UKHSA and local clinics in Kent are leading the response.
Symptoms to be aware of
Meningococcal disease can cause meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning). Symptoms can develop rapidly and may include:
- Fever
- Severe headache
- Rash that does not fade under a glass
- Vomiting
- Cold hands and feet
- Limb pain
- Drowsiness or confusion
- Rapid deterioration
| If you or someone you are with develops these symptoms Call 999 immediately. Do not wait. Early treatment saves lives. |
Who is eligible for preventive antibiotics (chemoprophylaxis)
Preventive antibiotics are not for the general public. They are for specific close contacts only, as defined by UKHSA. This includes:
- Students living on Canterbury campus (University of Kent)
- Staff living or working in affected halls of residence
- Anyone who attended Club Chemistry in Canterbury on 5th, 6th or 7th March 2026
- Close contacts directly identified by UKHSA
If you fall into one of these groups please contact the UKHSA on 03442253861. For all other patients, preventive antibiotics are not currently indicated.
Vaccination: what you should know
There are several meningitis vaccines offered free on the NHS. No single vaccine protects against all strains, which is why awareness of symptoms remains important regardless of vaccination status.
| MenB vaccine Offered to babies at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 1 year. Added to the NHS schedule in 2015 – if you were born before 1 May 2015, you will not have received this as part of the NHS programme. There is currently no NHS catch-up programme for MenB. |
| MenACWY vaccine Routinely offered to teenagers in school Years 9 and 10 (around age 14). Protects against strains A, C, W and Y, but not MenB. If you missed your adolescent dose, you can receive it free on the NHS up to your 25th birthday. |
| A note on vaccination queries We are aware that many patients are getting in touch about their vaccination status in response to this outbreak. At present, we have not received instruction from NHS England to undertake any additional catch-up vaccination programme in response to this specific outbreak. If you are under 25 and believe you have missed your routine MenACWY dose, please raise this at your next routine appointment and we will check and update your records at that time. |
Catch-up clinics for missed childhood vaccinations
Local catch-up clinics are being held during the school holidays for children who have not yet received their DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and polio) or MenACWY vaccinations. These clinics are available to book now, with appointments available from the second week of April.
Parents and guardians can book a place using the link below. The nearest available sessions to Sutton are at The Grange (Beddington Park) and Airport House (Purley Way).
These clinics are for children who have not received their DTP or MenACWY vaccinations at all. They are not booster appointments, and they do not provide the MenB vaccine. Please do not book if your child has already received these vaccinations.
You can book this here.
Further information and support
For general advice and queries, the following resources are available:
| Resource | Website |
| NHS 111 — for urgent health advice | 111.nhs.uk |
| NHS — meningitis information | nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis |
| Meningitis Research Foundation | meningitis.org |
| Meningitis Now | meningitisnow.org |