Health officials in England were not notified about a suspected meningitis patient for two days, slowing contact tracing and delaying a public warning about a growing outbreak in Kent.The patient first arrived at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate on the evening of Wednesday 11 March, sources say.The hospital reported the case to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on the...

The family of an 18-year-old who died after a meningitis infection in Kent have described the loss as devastating and urged faster action to protect other young people.Juliette Kenny fell ill with symptoms including vomiting and facial discolouration and died the day after they appeared, her father said.She is one of two confirmed fatalities linked to the current outbreak. Health officials now...

Health authorities have widened a meningitis B (MenB) vaccination campaign after an outbreak linked to a Canterbury nightclub, prompting long lines of university students seeking protection.The UK Health Security Agency now says anyone who visited Club Chemistry between 5 and 15 March is eligible for a jab.The offer has also been extended to sixth form pupils in affected areas and to people who...

A rare public health alert has been issued after a fast-moving meningitis outbreak in Kent that has so far left two young people dead and prompted targeted vaccinations at local universities.Health authorities say there have been around 20 confirmed or suspected cases linked to an incident that appears to have originated at a nightclub in Canterbury.Officials describe the cluster’s rapid spread...

Money expert Martin Lewis has apologised after a breathless turn on his ITV programme, saying there was simply too much to cover in the slot and he hoped viewers still found something useful.He thanked former Labour leader Ed Miliband for joining the show to discuss the government’s home heating oil plan, and acknowledged his delivery felt hurried as the programme ran long.Lewis also warned...