CANTERBURY, United Kingdom, March 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Hundreds of masked-up students queued Wednesday to get vaccinated at the UK university campus at the heart of a deadly meningitis outbreak, as the number of cases rose to 20. At least 200 students formed a long queue at the grassy campus near the medieval city of Canterbury, as the university rolled-out a targeted vaccination programme for meningitis B -- a deadly bacterial strain. The number of cases being probed by UK authorities has risen since Tuesday from 15 to 20. - 'Halt the spread' -Six of the confirmed cases are of group B meningococcal disease, according to the UKHSA. Children in Britain are usually routinely vaccinated against meningitis B with three doses given at eight and 12 weeks and one year.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha March 18, 2026 15:52 UTC