Meningitis Outbreak

Jas Athwal Excerpts

Tuesday 17th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Jas Athwal (Ilford South) (Lab)]

I thank my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for his statement. Parents of teenagers and students across the country will be looking on with increasing anxiety. What is the Secretary of State’s advice to parents in other parts of the country, particularly those in the Kent area? What exactly are the symptoms that they should be looking for?

[Wes Streeting]

I am very grateful to my hon. Friend for his question, and I know that lots of parents will be concerned about this issue. As I have said, the first thing that individuals should do is think about their risk of exposure. We have already made available the four hubs for people to come forward and get antibiotics, and we will continue to contact people actively and trace the outbreak.

As I have previously said, there is a range of symptoms: a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass; a sudden onset of high fever; a severe and worsening headache; a stiff neck; vomiting and diarrhoea; joint and muscle pain; a dislike of bright lights; very cold hands and feet; seizures; confusion or delirium; and extreme sleepiness or difficulty waking. Those symptoms can apply to a range of conditions, but it is good to be cautious. Students who may have been at Club Chemistry on the dates concerned should not write off some of the symptoms as a hangover. It is better to be reassured than to be ignorant, so seeking medical attention and advice is the right thing to do, rather than simply writing off the symptoms as something else. I urge parents to give that advice to young people, and students to follow the advice.