An “explosive” meningitis outbreak is unprecedented, officials say.

GMB hosts addresses ‘national incident’ after tragic death announcement (Image: ITV)

Good Morning Britain presenters Susanna Reid and Ed Balls addressed the meningitis outbreak in Kent, which is now being treated as a “national-level” incident. The head of the UK Health Security Agency called the explosive nature of it “unprecedented”. The number of confirmed cases of “invasive” meningitis in the Canterbury area stands at 15, with a “targeted vaccination programme” announced at the University of Kent.

Two people have died following the outbreak of meningitis B, including a 21-year-old university student and Juliette, a sixth-form pupil at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham. A nine-month-old baby girl has also been admitted to a children’s hospital in London after becoming unwell and is reported to be facing life-changing surgery.

During Wednesday’s edition of the ITV morning show, the hosts halted the programme for an urgent announcement. Susanna began, “Good morning, Britain… breaking news. 20 cases of meningitis have now been identified by officials. A nine-month old girl is in intensive care with the infection. Her case is not being linked to the University of Kent outbreak.” Both Susanna and Ed spoke to correspondent Nick Dixon, who delivered an update.

Ed began: “Thousands of students being offered a vaccination but do authorities think they can actually contain this outbreak?”

Nick replied: “That is the challenge for them at the moment. The university are trying to mobilise as many staff and resources as they can to get this targeted vaccination programme.”

He explained that either Thursday or Friday is when they will begin to vaccinate up to 5,000 students with pop-up clinics.

The correspondent remarked: “We have also been hearing that a nine-month old baby girl is now in intensive care suffering from meningitis.”

The Meningitis outbreak in Kent is now being treated as a ‘national-level’ incident, with the head of the UK Health Security Agency calling the explosive nature of it ‘unprecedented’.

15 cases of Meningitis B have been confirmed so far – with two people dying from the disease. A… pic.twitter.com/bkGBm8oGun

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) March 18, 2026

Susan Hopkins, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said there was an “explosive nature” to the outbreak, while deputy chief medical officer Dr Thomas Waite said it was the quickest growing outbreak he had seen in his career.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting described it as an unprecedented outbreak and a “rapidly developing situation”.

Hopkins said it looked as though there had been a “super spreader event”, with the outbreak ongoing within university halls of residences, where there would have been parties and social mixing.

The UKHSA declared a national incident on Sunday to help ensure supplies of antibiotics.