Wes Streeting has addressed the "risks" of meningitis as he issued a plea to students in the Canterbury area on Wednesday's edition of Good Morning Britain

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting insited there will not be a 'knee jerk' reaction to rolling out a menigitis B vaccine, following the deaths of two people from the life-threatening illness.

Streeting appeared on Wednesday's Good Morning Britain to discuss the concerning health news after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that, as of 5pm on Tuesday, some 20 cases of meningitis had been reported, up from 15 on Tuesday after an outbreak amongst students in Canterbury.

Mr Streeting urged people to remember how the disease can spread and issued some strict advice to students.

He said: "What we've seen in Canterbury is unprecedented because of the extent of the cases and the speed of the spread. That's what has concerned us and prompted a national-led response to what is a cluster linked around Canterbury.

It comes after the UKHSA this morning identified the menB strain - a severe bacterial form of meningitis - as being behind the current outbreak in Kent. Two young people, an 18-year-old sixth form pupil and a university student, have died after contracting the illness.

He added: "We've seen two fatalities and I cannot begin to imagine what those families are going through and [it shows] just how serious meningitis can be. Some people might looking at the headlines today might be thinking 'Well, what's the general risk?'

"There are a couple of points of reassurance. The first is that other than the other things that we worry about, like flu, during to the winter, or thinking back to the pandemic, this spreads through close personal contact, kissing, sharing drinks, sharing vapes.

"You can understand why we'd be particularly worried about. Those things we just described would be commonplace on a night out. That's how it spreads."

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The politician then pleaded with students who attended the nightclub in which the first case was identified last weekend to seek treatment via antibiotics .

He added: "From the moment we were aware of the first case, UKHSA has been actively tracing the contact of those cases and offering antibiotics.

"That's the other point of reassurance. Antibiotics are extremely effective for this disease. We've already distributed two-and-half thousand doses to students in the area and my advice this morning if you're someone who attended Club Chemistry on the 5th, 6th, or 7th March, and you haven't yet got antibiotics, you should.

"There are four centres open in Canterbury and Broadstairs. Go and get your antibiotics and that will give you peace of mind. As of today, the vaccination centre is open to five thousand students in halls of residence because that's where there has been highest prevalence, and therefore highest risk. We are looking to expand that to further cohorts."

In terms of a national meningitis vaccine for over 18s, Streeting insisted that would be "approached in an evidence way" as opposed to a "knee-jerk" manner. He added: "It's extremely unusual to stand up that kind of vaccine campaign following an initial case on Friday night and then a cluster." Above all, Streeting insisted that students should still attend school, college or university regardless of confirmed cases.

He added: "Firstly, whether you're sitting your exams this week, or you're at Canterbury College, or at school, whether there are confirmed or suspected cases, you should still go to school, you should still go to college, you should still go to university, risk is very low. In terms of accessing antibiotics, if you were at Club Chemistry, or you've had contact with someone, or you're worried - seek medical advice.

"At the moment, in terms of the vaccination campaign, that's targeting 5,000 students at the University of Kent. There may be other students wondering if they need it but that's not what we are saying at this stage. What we are looking at whether it would be right to expand the cohorts."

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