News · 25 March 2026
Two Students Died After Trust Delayed Meningitis Alarm
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Delayed alerts meant close contacts of patients missed earlier chances for preventative antibiotics against invasive meningitis. East Kent hospitals NHS trust waited two days, until a formal diagnosis, before alerting the UK Health Security Agency about a meningitis patient. As of Monday, 23 meningitis cases are confirmed or under investigation, with 13,386 antibiotic doses given by March 24.
Reported by The Guardian · How we write briefs