Britain rushes to contain deadly meningitis outbreak

Over 10 people were hospitalized in the UK and students urged to take preventative antibiotics Tuesday as health officials rushed to treat a deadly meningitis outbreak linked to a nightclub.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reported two dead from the outbreak in Kent in southeastern England—identified by media as a 21-year-old university student and an 18-year-old schoolgirl.

At least 11 others have been hospitalized and the outbreak has been linked to Club Chemistry in the city of Canterbury, a large three-story venue.

The health security agency confirmed to AFP Tuesday that “some of the cases have now been identified as group B”, a bacterial strain rarer and deadlier than the viral type.

Meningitis B causes death in around one in 10 cases, according to the National Health Service.

Meningitis is an infection affecting the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord and is most common in young children, teenagers and young adults.

The focus of public health measures was on the University of Kent, which has around 18,000 students, some of whom are among those hospitalized with meningitis.

The university held a clinic offering antibiotics Tuesday. The UKHSA Tuesday urged anyone who went to a nightclub in Canterbury between March 5 and 7 to get preventative antibiotics.

The health security agency has faced criticism for an alleged delay in informing the public of the outbreak.

It first announced deaths Sunday, two days after it was notified of cases.

UKHSA’s deputy head Gyatri Amirthalingam said the agency took “urgent action” to seek to identify and inform close contacts of those infected.

“I don’t believe there’s been any delay in terms of the public health response,” she said.

Club Chemistry said on Instagram that one of its staff members was being treated for meningitis and it has closed as a precaution.

© 2026 AFP