18/03/2026
📢 MenB UPDATE on morning of Wednesday 18 March 2026
Our thoughts remain with the families of those who have died and everyone affected. Here is the latest, accurate information, please read before sharing anything else.
THIS IS NOW A NATIONAL INCIDENT
The UKHSA has formally declared this a national incident with 20 confirmed cases (up from 15 yesterday), which means more resources, more coordination, and faster decision-making at a national level. This is the system doing what it's supposed to do. The UKHSA chief executive has described the outbreak as consistent with a superspreader event at Club Chemistry, and scientists are urgently carrying out genome sequencing on the MenB strain to understand it better. The response is comprehensive and moving fast.
SCHOOLS WITH CONFIRMED OR SUSPECTED CASES
Cases have been confirmed at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School (Faversham), Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys (Canterbury), Norton Knatchbull (Ashford), Canterbury Academy, Highworth Grammar School (Ashford). Two specialist schools on Sheppey have closed as a precaution. All other schools remain open and are following UKHSA guidance. If your child's school has a case, you will be contacted directly if they are considered a close contact.
UPDATE: Dane Court says that “Further to the letter that we shared with parents this morning, we have now been made aware that the student is not a confirmed case of meningitis, they remain under investigation.”
BABY NALA-ROSE
Nine-month-old Nala-Rose from Folkestone remains in intensive care at Evelina London Children's Hospital in a stable condition. Our hearts go out to her family. The community support for them has been wonderful to see. It is still unknown if her case is linked to the Canterbury outbreak.
VACCINES
An NHS vaccination programme for students living in UoK halls will begin in the coming days. The Health Secretary has also asked the JCVI to urgently re-examine wider vaccine eligibility. Private MenB vaccination is available at Superdrug and many other pharmacies at around £110-200 per dose. Call ahead before travelling as demand is very high right now.
NEW HELPLINE
0344 225 3861 open 9am to 5pm today. Use this if you have questions and aren't sure whether to go to a clinic.
ANTIBIOTIC CLINICS -- TODAY'S HOURS
You are eligible if you attended Club Chemistry on 5, 6 or 7 March, live on UoK campus, or are a close household contact of a confirmed case. No booking. No ID needed. Bring your NHS number and a bottle of water. You cannot collect on behalf of someone else.
📍 Senate Building, University of Kent, CT2 7NZ -- 9am to 5pm
📍 Gate Clinic, Kent & Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road, CT1 3NG -- 8.30am to 7.30pm
📍 Thanet Community Health Hub, Northwood Road, Broadstairs, CT10 2WA -- 8.30am to 8pm (last patient 7.30pm)
📍 Westgate Hall, Westgate Hall Road, Canterbury, CT1 2BT -- 8.30am to 7.30pm
📍 Vicarage Lane Clinic, Ashford, TN23 1NJ -- NEW today -- 9am to 4pm
Outside Kent or outside clinic hours: call 111 or your GP and explain the situation.
FOR EVERYONE ELSE
If you are not a close contact and did not attend Club Chemistry on those dates, your day to day risk remains low. MenB does not spread through casual contact. Carry on as normal, but know the symptoms and trust your instincts.
SYMPTOMS -- act fast, don't wait for a rash
• Severe worsening headache
• High fever and stiff neck
• Vomiting, cold hands and feet, unusual drowsiness
• Rash that doesn't fade under a glass -- this appears late, don't wait for it
If anything feels wrong: A&E or 999 immediately. Early treatment is what saves lives with this illness.
Meningitis Now helpline: 0808 80 10 388, open 9am to 8pm
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Finally, a personal note from me.
I want to say how incredibly proud I am of this community. Over the past few days I've watched people look out for each other, share accurate information, ask the right questions, and show real kindness to strangers who were worried and scared. That's Canterbury at its best.
Thank you to everyone who has shared updates, flagged rumours, asked questions and helped others find the answers they needed. This group has been a genuinely useful resource during a really frightening few days and that is down to all of you.
Thank you to the local and national press who have worked hard to source and verify information quickly and get it to the people who need it.
And most of all, thank you to every single NHS worker, UKHSA official, pharmacist, school nurse, GP receptionist, and volunteer who has gone above and beyond this week. The queues at the clinics, the late nights, the phone calls, the difficult conversations …. We are grateful beyond words.
Stay safe, look out for each other, and please keep being kind.
