In the United Kingdom, meningitis, a group B meningococcal-induced epidemic, has been reported in Kent. Health authorities are researching the outbreak and acting in a wholesome manner, prescribing antibiotics to the potential or known infected, and a specific vaccination campaign with the meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine.
The meningococcal bacteria that are transmitted to cause meningitis need close and intimate contact. The outbreaks are rare; therefore, unless in the case of special risk factors, including crowded settings. The symptoms may develop rapidly and may comprise fever, intense headache, stiff neck, photophobia, vomiting, confusion and rash. The prevention of the disease through early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics is crucial. Meningitis is a serious illness that every individual who suspects it should consult a doctor.
Several years ago, vaccines to prevent infection by a number of groups of meningococcal bacteria have been available, although none of them is now effective against all of them. The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is thus reminding teenagers and adults who have been offered the MenB vaccine about the importance of it, even if they have had meningococcal vaccination in the past.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, a United Kingdom HSA Consultant Epidemiologist, said: “The teenagers in the United Kingdom are being regularly vaccinated against the meningococcal vaccine, which covers group A, C, W and Y, but it will not cover MenB. Therefore, even in the case of a person who was vaccinated at school, they require 2 doses of the MenB vaccine, which will help to provide essential protection in this outbreak. The meningococcal infection has a great number of strains, not all of them covered by the existing vaccines, and hence it is of paramount importance that individuals know how to recognise the signs and symptoms of invasive meningococcal disease. Early identification and management are life-saving processes.”
The specifics of current WHO recommendations on vaccination against meningococcal diseases are confined to sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease burden brought by these bacteria is greatest. Recommendations on a global basis are anticipated in the near future.
WHO assists nations in overcoming the challenge of meningitis as a social health challenge.
WHO is keeping a close eye on the situation in the United Kingdom and is in contact with the health authorities and is also ready to help as necessary. By means of “Defeating Meningitis by 2030: a global road map,” WHO and partners ask to eradicate epidemics of bacterial meningitis, decrease the number of deaths due to vaccine-preventable meningitis and disability and enhance the quality of life following meningitis.
On 28-29 April 2026, WHO/Europe is organising a workshop to review the progress on the implementation of the roadmap in the WHO European Region, and to review the regional priorities, disease burden and the status of introducing vaccines. The participants will be the representatives of national immunisation programmes, epidemiology departments of the national public health centres, national bacteriological reference laboratories, and nationwide immunisation technical advisory groups.
