The peak of the initial infection wave following a so-called “superspreading event” appears to be over, but new cases remain possible, according to Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, during a press briefing today. The first infections in the outbreak have been traced to a weekend outing at Club Chemistry nightclub in the university town of Canterbury between March 5th and 7th. Approximately two thousand young people visited the club that weekend, after which several became seriously ill. Two of those infected, aged 18 and 21, have died.
While the largest outbreak is likely behind them, medical experts cannot definitively say whether infected young people have spread the bacteria beyond Kent. Although, they consider the likelihood of a cluster of infections outside the region to be low. “Hopefully, antibiotics and vaccination will prevent further spread,” Hunter stated.
Medical experts are currently uncertain about the cause of the rapid spread of the meningococcal bacteria. A potential factor being investigated is the use of vapes among young people, as vaping can damage the throat and potentially facilitate easier bacterial entry. Sharing vapes may as well contribute to transmission. It is confirmed that the outbreak is caused by meningococcus type B.
Three additional clinics opened today to provide MenB vaccinations to young people. Yesterday, hundreds were turned away due to overcrowding. Long lines have formed again this morning as young people wait to receive the vaccine. Thousands of young people in Kent have already been prescribed preventative antibiotics, and ten thousand have received the MenB vaccine. Health authorities have ordered an additional 5,000 doses.
The outbreak has deeply affected students in England. The family of the deceased teenager has called for a broader vaccination program. Forty Members of Parliament have written to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, urging him to make the MenB vaccine available to all British young people.
Concerns are growing not only in Kent but throughout the country. Pharmacies offering the MenB vaccine privately are experiencing shortages, and individuals are being placed on waiting lists. The meningitis B vaccine was added to the UK vaccination program for infants in 2015, meaning anyone born before that year would not have received it as standard.
According to the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), clusters of infections often occur in crowded settings. While patients can transmit the disease to those around them after infection, the spread is not as rapid as with airborne infections like coronavirus. The cases in Great Britain involve meningococcus type B, which also occurs in the Netherlands, with 121 cases reported in 2024 by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
Symptoms of the infection include a cold, malaise, and flu-like symptoms. The bacteria can be present in the nose or throat without causing illness. However, if it enters the bloodstream or nervous system, it can lead to meningitis or sepsis.
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