Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether protocols for escalating suspected meningitis outbreaks to national public health authorities were followed in full in the recent outbreak.

Protocols for escalating suspected meningitis outbreaks were followed. The rapid emergence of cases in this outbreak was genuinely unusual, and the response reflected the pattern and pace of cases identified in this outbreak. National Health Service clinicians and the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA’s) local Health Protection Team followed well established national guidance for management of cases and contacts of meningococcal infection. Further information is available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69c25a5bbb0dfe55b83e4c2a/UKHSA-meningo-disease-guidelines-dec2025.pdf

No delays in issuing public health advice have been identified. The UKHSA local Health Protection Team was notified of a cluster of cases on 14 March 2026. The team acted immediately and communication to those at immediate risk took place on 14 and 15 March 2026. In addition, on 15 March 2026, a letter was sent to all University of Kent students and staff with warn and inform information to ensure rapid identification of symptomatic individuals and also provided details on eligibility for antibiotic chemoprophylaxis. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/outbreak-of-meningococcal-disease-linked-to-university-of-kent-and-the-area-of-canterbury/

Throughout the outbreak, the UKHSA has worked closely with the National Health Service, educational settings, and other partners. Further information on meningitis B and this outbreak is available on the UKHSA’s blog, at the following link:

https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/03/18/meningitis-b-outbreak-what-you-need-to-know/#:~:text=The%20rapid%20emergence%20of%20cases,variable%20immunity%20and%20other%20factors