London, Nov. 1 -- Children and young adults, particularly university students, face an increased risk of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned on Thursday, following a nationwide rise in confirmed cases.
UKHSA figures show 378 cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) were recorded in 2024-25, up from 340 the previous year. Most infections involved children and young adults, with the MenB strain responsible for 90 percent of cases in babies and all cases among 15-to-19-year-olds.
Health officials cautioned that students starting university are especially vulnerable due to close contact and communal living. Declining vaccination rates among infants and teenagers have further heightened t...