Meningitis B in Kent: an outbreak in the shadow of a pandemic

At the time of writing, the outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease in Kent includes 18 confirmed cases, 13 of which have been identified as type B (MenB), plus 11 suspected cases.1 Sadly, this has included two fatal infections. This outbreak is notable for its large number of cases in a short period, described as “unprecedented” by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA),2 and for the response, with extensive media coverage and widespread public anxiety about the perceived risk nationwide.The acquisition of Neisseria meningitidis requires close contact, with transmission occurring through saliva or respiratory droplets from a person carrying the organism.3 Most transmission events result in carriage, and around 10% of the population carry N meningitidis at any time.4 In the pre-vaccination era this rate was as high as 33% in adolescents with additional risk factors, which included attendance at pubs or clubs and cigarette smoking—echoing the discussion about the current...