Bacterial meningitis is rarer and deadlier than the viral type.
Babies have only been routinely vaccinated against MenB since 2015 in the UK.
Kent council’s public health director Anjan Ghosh on Friday warned that “small household, sporadic clusters” could appear in other parts of the UK as students who have travelled home could “incubate” the bug.
But he said these would be “containable” and stressed the risk of infection between individuals is low.
One case linked to the outbreak has been reported in France. The French health ministry confirmed Wednesday that a person who had attended the University of Kent was hospitalised in stable condition.
Meningitis is most common in young children, teenagers and young adults.
Initial symptoms include headache, fever, drowsiness and a stiff neck – but those are symptoms of various illnesses and can hamper prompt diagnosis.
Meningitis can progress rapidly, with another sign often being a rash, and is spread through prolonged close contact, including kissing or the sharing of vapes or drinks.