Two Suffolk teenagers in hospital with Meningitis B
Health chiefs say the two young people are recovering well and the risk to the wider public remains low
Two teenagers in Suffolk are recovering in hospital after being diagnosed with Meningitis B.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed the two cases on 2nd September 2026, saying it is working with the local authority, the NHS and local partners to investigate.
Both young people are said to be recovering well.
Contact-tracing underway
UKHSA said it has been carrying out extensive contact-tracing to identify close contacts of the teenagers.
As a precaution, those identified have been offered antibiotics and given information on the signs and symptoms of Meningitis B to watch for.
The agency said the risk to the wider public remains low.
Dr Smita Kapadia, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control at UKHSA, said: "We continue to work closely with partners to identify close contacts of the cases and offer treatment and advice. It is really important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of this disease as prompt treatment is the key to prevent the infection getting worse and spreading to others.
"Anyone can get meningitis, and around 300 to 400 cases of meningococcal disease are diagnosed in England every year. It's most common in babies, young children, teenagers, and young adults.
"The best advice remains to be aware of meningitis symptoms and for young people to check that they are up-to-date with their vaccinations, including the MenACWY vaccine which is offered in school years 9 and 10 but remains free on the NHS until the age of 25. The MenACWY vaccine does not protect against all strains such as MenB, which can circulate among young adults, however a time-limited offer of the MenB vaccine is available to young people starting university or residential further education settings this year."
The MenB vaccine offer
A time-limited MenB vaccine offer was announced in June this year in response to recent meningitis outbreaks, while a full review of the evidence by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is underway.
The vaccine is available for eligible young people starting university as undergraduates, or moving into residential further education settings for the first time this autumn.
The programme is running in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as in the Crown Dependencies.
According to UKHSA, the following groups can have the MenB vaccine as part of the one-off programme:
Those aged 17 or 18, who were born between 1st September 2007 and 31st August 2008.
Those under 25, born on or after 21st July 2001 and starting university or some further education colleges as a residential student for the first time this autumn. This includes international students, students from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and those travelling abroad to study.
What are the symptoms?
UKHSA said early symptoms, such as vomiting, fever, aches, muscle pain, cold hands and feet and headaches, can look similar to common illnesses like colds or flu.
But someone with meningitis or septicaemia will usually become seriously ill within hours, which is why it's crucial to keep checking on anyone who is unwell.
Common signs of meningitis include a fever, a very bad headache, vomiting, a stiff neck, a dislike of bright lights, a rash, confusion, severe sleepiness or losing consciousness, and fits.
Signs of sepsis include fever and shivering, severe pains in the limbs and joints, vomiting, very cold hands and feet, pale or blotchy skin, rapid breathing, diarrhoea and stomach cramps, difficulty walking or standing, and severe sleepiness.
UKHSA said a red or purple rash that does not fade under pressure is another warning sign, and people should do the glass test. On dark skin, checking inside the eyelids or the roof of the mouth may make the spots more visible.
Anyone concerned about symptoms, at any time, should contact their GP, call NHS 111, or call 999 in an emergency.