MenB: what you need to know

Many will feel anxious after hearing of the recent meningitis cases in Kent. There has been a serious outbreak linked to the Canterbury area, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is leading the public health response, including arranging antibiotics and targeted vaccination for people thought to be at higher risk.¹

At the same time, it helps to keep the wider picture in mind. Meningococcal disease is still relatively uncommon overall: there were 378 confirmed cases in England in 2024/25, and the overall rate remains below 1 case per 100,000 people. In England, there has been a marked overall decline in confirmed invasive meningococcal disease cases over the last 2 decades from a peak of 2,595 cases in the epidemiological year 1999/2000.² This is reassuring, but it is not a reason to ignore symptoms, because meningitis can become serious very quickly.

But what is Meningitis B?

Meningitis means inflammation, or swelling, of the lining around the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by viruses or bacteria.

Meningitis B, often shortened to MenB, is caused by a type of bacteria called meningococcal group B.⁴ This bacteria can cause meningitis and can also cause septicaemia, sometimes called blood poisoning, which means a serious infection in the bloodstream. If it does this, it is known as ‘Invasive Meningococcal Disease’ or ‘IMD’.

In England, MenB is the most common cause of IMD, causing 313 of 378 confirmed cases in 2024/25.² MenB spreads through close contact with saliva or droplets from the nose and mouth, for example through coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing drinks, utensils or vapes.

What do I need to know?

Symptoms can include a sudden fever, a severe or worsening headache, vomiting, a stiff neck, unusual sleepiness, confusion, cold hands and feet, discomfort in bright light, and a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass. However, this last thing, the rash, is a late symptom, so if you notice the others, don’t wait around for the rash. Early symptoms can look like flu, a bad cold, or even a hangover, especially in teenagers and young adults.

So if someone is getting worse quickly, is difficult to wake, has a non-fading rash, has a seizure, or you are seriously worried, go to A&E or call 999 immediately. Acting early can be lifesaving.

What about the MenB vaccine?

The MenB vaccine used in the UK is called Bexsero.³ It was added to the routine NHS childhood vaccination schedule in September 2015, so babies born since then are likely to have been offered it.

This means that many older children, teenagers and adults will not have had it routinely on the NHS, unless they had it privately or are in a recognised higher-risk group. Children who missed their MenB vaccines can still have them on the NHS up to the age of 2. There are also special circumstances where MenB vaccine may be offered on the NHS outside the routine programme.⁶

This includes some people with medical conditions that increase the risk of severe infection, such as people without a working spleen, or people with problems in part of the immune system called the complement system, which is one of the body’s infection-fighting defences. It may also be offered as part of the public health response after certain exposures or outbreaks.

For this reason, we would encourage only those who clearly fall into one of these NHS groups to contact their NHS GP, although they may well contact you directly.⁶ Otherwise, if UKHSA or the NHS believes you may have been exposed without knowing it, they will usually contact you directly.¹

What’s being done about it?

UKHSA’s role in an outbreak is to identify cases, trace close contacts, arrange precautionary antibiotics, advise schools and universities, and recommend targeted vaccination where needed.

Here at Wessex Private GP, we understand why this news can be frightening. The overall numbers are reassuring, but staying alert to symptoms still matters.

We are also working with the Kingston Wing in Yeovil to explore whether WPGP may be able to offer MenB vaccination privately. We will keep you posted on this via our website.

Take-home message

Meningitis is rare but serious. If you or a loved one has symptoms you’re concerned about, get help quickly. If this means bypassing a GP and going straight to A&E when you’re really worried, that’s fine.