Students warned of increased meningitis B risk in UK

Young adults, particularly university students, remain at increased risk from meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned Thursday.

New figures from the UKHSA revealed that Meningitis B (MenB) was responsible for 97% of invasive meningococcal disease cases in 15- to 24-year-olds (93 of 96 cases) in England during 2025-2026.

In a statement, the agency urged first-year students to ensure they are protected with two doses before the start of the term.

The UKHSA noted that the vaccination is "really important" because students in their first year of university face around seven times higher risk of meningococcal disease than young people of a similar age who do not go to university.

Citing new data published in the Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) report for England, it noted that MenB was the leading cause of the disease across almost all age groups under 25, including infants and one- to four-year-olds.

The agency warned that invasive meningococcal disease can be serious, with 26 deaths recorded among the 348 confirmed IMD confirmed cases during the year.

Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious illness caused by meningococcal bacteria. In some cases, it can lead to severe conditions such as meningitis and septicemia (blood poisoning), which can rapidly progress to sepsis.

The onset of illness is often sudden, and early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are vital.

Symptoms can include fever, headache, rapid breathing, drowsiness, shivering, vomiting, a characteristic rash, and cold hands and feet.