There has been no increased activity of meningococcal disease in Ireland, the health service has said, following a fatal outbreak of the illness in England.
Last Sunday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced two people had died during an outbreak of meningitis in Kent, near London.
As of 5pm on Wednesday, the UKHSA said there were a total of 27 cases linked to the outbreak, an increase of seven. Fifteen of the cases are laboratory confirmed, while 12 remain under investigation.
All confirmed cases linked to the outbreak so far are in young adults and six of the confirmed cases are confirmed to be group B meningococcal disease.
The UKHSA has advised that the situation is evolving and further cases are possible.
In a statement on Thursday, the Health Service Executive (HSE) said its national public-health team continues to be in “regular contact” with UK health authorities.
Dr John Cuddihy, HSE national director for public health, said there is “no evidence of an increase in invasive meningococcal disease activity in Ireland beyond expected seasonal and background levels”.
“There is also currently no indication of links between any cases in Ireland and the outbreak reported in Kent,” he said.
“Routine surveillance in Ireland continues to show that meningococcal disease remains a rare but serious infection, with sporadic cases occurring each year.”
In 2026 to date, there have been 12 cases of meningococcal disease reported in Ireland, with no deaths reported. Of the 12 cases, nine were type B.
Last year there were 60 meningococcal cases reported in Ireland, of which 38 were the B strain.
The disease can cause serious diseases including meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain) and septicaemia (blood poisoning).
Cuddihy said: “Meningococcal disease can affect people of any age, but it is most common in babies, young children and to a lesser, extent teenagers and young adults. In countries with climates like Ireland, cases tend to rise during the winter and early spring months.
“Individuals with meningococcal disease can deteriorate rapidly. Symptoms include fever, severe headache, vomiting, rapid breathing, cold hands and feet, drowsiness, or a rash that doesn’t fade under pressure. Do not wait for a rash.”
The organisation advises anyone who is ill and getting worse to get medical help immediately.
Dr Lucy Jessop, director of the HSE’s National Immunisation Office, said the MenB vaccine has been part of the free national childhood immunisation schedule for babies born from October 2016 onwards.
“It is given over three doses at two, four and 12 months,“ she said. ”Meningococcal type B disease is most common in babies under the age of one year old and the scheduling of the administration of the vaccine under the immunisation programme takes account of this.
“There is currently no catch-up Men B vaccine programme for older children. Men C vaccine is also offered to babies as part of the primary childhood immunisation programme.”