Number of meningitis cases linked to Kent outbreak rises to 27

Seven new cases confirmed as hundreds of students at University of Kent take up offer of meningitis B vaccination

Seven new cases of meningitis in Kent have been confirmed, taking the total number of cases to 27, the UK Health Security Agency has said.

Officials believe that the current strategy of preventive antibiotics and targeted vaccination is proving effective, as the bacteria causing the outbreak is a known strain of meningitis B, the Guardian understands.