SHOCKING: A deadly outbreak is spreading rapidly! Health officials are sounding the alarm after a highly “invasive” strain of meningitis claimed two lives, including a university student

TWO people, including a university student, have tragically died in an “invasive” meningitis outbreak.

It’s been reported that 11 people, from the Canterbury area, are seriously ill in hospital.

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A University of Kent student has tragically diedCredit: Alamy
 

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It is believed that most are aged between 18 and 21 and several are students at the university.

Both people who have died are believed to be aged between 18 and 21, according to the BBC.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urgently contacted more than 30,000 pupils to inform them of the outbreak.

A UKHSA spokesperson said antibiotics have now been organised for some students in the Canterbury area.

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Trish Mannes, UKHSA regional deputy director for the South East, said younger people can be at risk because they confuse symptoms for a hangover.

She said: “Students and staff will understandably be feeling worried about the risk of further cases; however, we would like to reassure them that close contacts of cases have been given antibiotics as a precautionary measure.”

The University of Kent confirmed that a student was one of two people who have died.

“We are deeply saddened to confirm that one student from the University of Kent has died following a case of invasive meningitis,” a statement said.

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“Our thoughts are with the student’s family, friends and the wider university community at this extremely difficult time.

“The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. We are working closely with public health teams and are in touch with staff and students to ensure they get the advice and support they need.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and keep our community informed.”

Tom Nutt, chief executive of the charity Meningitis Now, added: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the deaths of two young people following the reported outbreak of meningitis linked to the University of Kent.

“Our heartfelt thoughts are with their families, friends and the entire university community at this incredibly difficult time.

“Meningitis can progress very quickly and its impact is devastating, particularly for young people and their loved ones.

“University students and young adults are among the groups at increased risk because meningitis bacteria can spread more easily in settings where people live, study and socialise closely together.

“We welcome the swift response from the UK Health Security Agency to identify close contacts and provide precautionary antibiotics where needed.

“Rapid public health action is crucial in helping to reduce the risk of further cases.

“We are offering our support and resources to the university to help in any way we can.”

This comes after a heartbroken mum told how her son came home from uni with “freshers’ flu” but went to bed and never woke up.

Aaron – 18, from Kidderminster, Worcestershire – woke up with a pounding headache, took some paracetamol and went back to bed.

Within 30 minutes, he fell into a seizure – and died four days later.

Dad Anthony, who found his teenage son on the morning of December 30, 2025, told The Sun: “The speed it happened, we had no chance to do anything.

“I heard him moaning in his room. I went in, and he was unresponsive. He didn’t even know I was in the room; he was in discomfort, but he wasn’t responding to me.”

Aaron’s “freshers’ flu” was in fact the rare meningitis B strain, which he had contracted during his fresher term at Liverpool John Moores University.

It can kill within 24 hours after first contact – and yet countless Brits are still unknowingly unvaccinated against it.

The MenB jab, Bexsero, was only introduced into the routine NHS childhood immunisation programme in 2015, meaning Aaron was too old, and instead was only vaccinated with MenACWY – which protects against the most common strains in the UK – as a child.

Students, particularly freshers, are at high risk of becoming infected with meningitis as they tend to mix closely with lots of people.

It’s usually triggered by a bacterial or viral infection which causes swelling of the layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

UKHSA experts warned students get “seriously ill, and some tragically die” from the preventable disease every year.

The MenACWY jab is typically offered in year 9 or 10 to children aged 13-15 as protection against serious infections like meningitis and septicaemia, which can be deadly.

The jab is also available to anyone who missed the vaccine up to their 25th birthday.

The symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and the classic rash associated usually looks like small, red pinpricks at first.

But it will spread over the body and turn into red or purple blotches.

If you press the side of a glass firmly against the skin where the rash is and it does not fade, it is a sign of blood poisoning and you should get medical help immediately.

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The Meningitis Research Foundation warned the symptoms can easily be mistaken for a hangover.

The charity urged people to look out for the symptoms in family and friends during winter when the illness is more prevalent.

What is meningitis and what are the symptoms?

MENINGITIS is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord – called the meninges.

It can be very serious if not treated quickly – it can cause life-threatening sepsis and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.

Symptoms include:

A high temperature (fever)
Being sick
A headache
A rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop)
A stiff neck
A dislike of bright lights
Drowsiness or unresponsiveness
Seizures (fits)

Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis.

Meningitis is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection.

Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis.

Vaccinations offer some protection against certain causes of meningitis.

These include the:

MenB vaccine – offered to babies aged 8 weeks, followed by a second dose at 16 weeks and a booster at 1 year
6-in-1 vaccine – offered to babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age
pneumococcal vaccine – 2 doses offered to babies at 12 weeks and 1 year, and a single dose offered to adults aged 65 or over
Hib/MenC vaccine – offered to babies at 1 year of age
MMR vaccine – offered to babies at 1 year and a second dose at 3 years and 4 months
MenACWY vaccine – offered to teenagers, sixth formers and “fresher” students going to university for the first time

Source: NHS

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A further 11 students are reportedly seriously ill in hospitalCredit: Alamy