The number of cases of meningitis linked to an outbreak in Kent has dropped as a campaign to vaccinate thousands of young people continued into a fourth day. Meanwhile, suspected cases under investigation have also fallen from 11 to nine, meaning the total number of cases is 29, down from 34 on Saturday. Nineteen of the 20 confirmed cases are meningitis B, and all cases have required hospital admission. The UKHSA said it expects more cases to be downgraded in the coming days as further laboratory assessments are completed. They are 18-year-old Juliette Kenny, who was described by her family as “fit, healthy and strong” before her death, and a University of Kent student.

Source: Irish Examiner March 22, 2026 21:01 UTC