Should we be worried? Health officials are racing to contain a Kent meningitis cluster following the tragic deaths of two young people. Experts are deploying emergency antibiotics and tracing close contacts to halt the spread.
Students warned over meningitis outbreak
Super-spreading: With 20 cases of meningitis under investigation, students in Kent are being urged to stay alert for symptoms of this dangerous, but preventable disease.
Glossary
MenB meningitis - A serious bacterial infection in which group B meningococcal bacteria infect the lining around the brain and spinal cord.
Cluster - A small group of similar things (such as people, cases of a disease, or objects) that are positioned closely together in the same area.
MenACWY - A vaccine specifically designed to protect against four major strains (groups) of the bacteria that cause meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning). It is commonly given to teenagers.
Membranes - A thin layer of cells that acts as a boundary or lining in an organism.
Bacteria - A large group of single-cell microorganisms. Some cause disease in animals and humans.
Antibiotic - Medicines that fight bacterial infections.
Herd immunity - Usually used to describe the effectiveness of vaccination, the term refers to having enough people in a given community who have recovered from a viral infection and, therefore, cannot pass it on. This slows the spread of a disease and prevents a population from future epidemics.
Prolonged - Continuing for a long time.
Lockdown - Periods of time when, due to the coronavirus pandemic, people were ordered to stay indoors.