The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the medical safety body, has declared a public health alert following a meningitis outbreak originating in......

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the medical safety body, has declared a public health alert following a meningitis outbreak originating in Kent. The epidemic has so far resulted in two deaths and a total of 34 cases, all of which are currently confined to the county of Kent. The outbreak appears to have started at several events at Club Chemistry, leading to the infection of many young people; the disease is transmissible through close contact. A vaccination campaign has been launched, with over 5,000 people vaccinated to date. The public health alert requires all NHS doctors across Great Britain to immediately report any suspicious symptoms. The United Kingdom was the first country in the world to introduce the Meningitis B vaccine; however, authorities remind the public that while the vaccine is highly recommended, it is not mandatory.