An outbreak of meningitis is being investigated by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which says 13 cases have been notified since March 13, and has resulted in two deaths

Experts say the meningitis outbreak is the worst to hit the UK for at least 10 years.

One doctor has described the pattern as “very focused and affecting a lot of people” as thousands of students in Canterbury, Kent, seek precautionary antibiotics. Parents up and down the country have expressed concern at the grim news, particularly following the confirmation two young people have died.

But several experts have spoken to reporters about how students everywhere can keep safe — and what parents can do to help. Rob Galloway, an emergency medicine consultant at University Hospitals Sussex in Brighton, said students in shared accommodation can take steps to try to prevent the spread of meningococcal bacteria.

He also said, for instance, wearing a mask can reduce the likelihood of spreading the infection. Students were photographed on the University of Kent campus on Monday wearing masks as they desperately tried to dodge infection.

READ MORE: Timeline of killer Kent meningitis outbreak: From 2,000 people at club nights to tragedyREAD MORE: Wales mum in coma after brain infection turned out to be meningitis

There has been in recent years an alarming drop in take-up rates of meningitis vaccines offered to teenagers. Andrew Preston, a professor of microbial pathogenicity at the University of Bath, acknowledges this may be a factor in the outbreak, which he described as “extremely dangerous”.

“We haven’t seen anything on this scale for many years. In fact, I can’t remember the last time so many people have been struck down at the same time. In the past, we would see clusters of cases and they tended to be sporadic, but this outbreak is very focused and affecting a lot of people,” Professor Preston said.

And he stressed first-year uni students appear most vulnerable as they typically party together and have more social interaction than the other younger age groups. Groups of students attended events at Club Chemistry, a nightclub in Canterbury, recently, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says anyone who has done should take precautionary antibiotics.

Why are first-year students so vulnerable?

While up to 20 per cent of the general population carry the Meningococcal bacteria responsible, at the back of their throats, this rises to one in four young adults aged between 15 to 19. What makes students vulnerable is that they typically party together and have more social interaction than the other younger age groups, experts say.

Professor Preston, of the University of Bath, added: “We think that getting meningitis is completely accidental, caused by a breach in the nasal lining or something else that happens to allow the bacteria access into the bloodstream.”

Juliette, an 18-year-old sixth college student, died, her school confirmed yesterday. The teenager, of Faverham, Kent, was described as “incredibly kind, thoughtful and intelligent” in touching tributes.

When should I seek medical help for my child?

Students are being urged to keep an eye out for worrying symptoms in their friends, even if they have been vaccinated.

Professor Galloway, of the hospital in Brighton, told Good Health: “Having the meningitis vaccine does not completely rule out meningitis. The vaccines protect against some causes of meningitis, but not all.”

He stressed that acting quickly is vital and warns people not to wait for the telltale red rash that does not fade under pressure from a glass, as this can indicate the infection has spread beyond the brain and into the body.

“People will often develop a fever and confusion first, along with muscle and joint pain, and sometimes coughs and sneezes. Later, they may develop spots or a rash, which can be a sign that sepsis is developing.”

Is there a risk in shared student accommodation?

Professor Galloway continued: “The infection is spread via saliva and droplets, so it can be transmitted via shared utensils, cutlery, cups and even toothbrushes. Try to use your own utensils and keep surfaces clean and tidy, though the risk is low.”

Sharing cigarettes is also not advised.

Should my child wear a mask at university?

Because the bacteria is spread through the air in droplets, wearing a mask can reduce the likelihood of spreading the infection, says Professor Galloway, adding that wearing a mask may be a sensible choice for students at the University of Kent in crowded areas, but is not necessarily appropriate for all students everywhere.

How can I protect my child against it?

The ACWY vaccine offers protection against four types of bacteria that can cause meningitis: meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y. It is offered to teenagers aged 14 years old, and to people up to the age of 25 who’ve never had a vaccine containing meningitis C.

Professor Preston says uptake of the ACWY vaccine among adolescents is around 73 per cent, “so there are a lot of unvaccinated students which may reduce herd immunity”.

Meningitis B is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK, but while there is a vaccine the NHS only offers it to babies and those with specific underlying medical conditions. Otherwise. it is only available at private clinics and pharmacies including Boots and Superdrug. The course requires two doses which are usually taken one month apart and cost up to £200.

An outbreak of invasive bacterial meningitis at the University of Kent has left two people dead and 11 seriously ill in hospital, prompting the UK Health Security Agency to distribute antibiotics to students in the Canterbury area. Here’s what you need to know about the disease and how to protect yourself.

What is meningitis?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the tissue lining that surrounds your brain and spinal cord (the meninges). Any type of harmful microbe, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, can invade the meninges and cause an infection. (The current outbreak at the University of Kent is caused by bacteria.) This can be very dangerous since the meninges function as a protective layer around your brain. When it becomes damaged, your brain and spinal cord become at risk too.

What is invasive meningococcal disease, and why is it so dangerous?

The bacteria that cause meningitis are called Neisseria meningitidis, and the disease can quickly spread from person to person if they have close contact. The bacteria invade blood vessels in the meninges, damaging them, and this causes immune cells to enter the meninges and produce molecules that trigger inflammation. When the meninges become inflamed like this, the brain can stop functioning properly, leading to serious illness and brain damage.

What are the symptoms, and how do I know if it’s meningitis rather than flu or a hangover?

Meningitis can look different in different people. Symptoms typically include a high fever (but with cold hands and feet), vomiting, headache, joint pain, a stiff neck and feeling unusually sleepy. Some people may become confused or distressed by bright lights and sounds. Some people may also develop a rash that won’t disappear when you press a glass against it. Babies may develop an unusual cry.

If you suspect you have meningitis, particularly if your symptoms are not typical when compared to previous hangovers or flu-like illnesses, then go to your nearest hospital or call for help. It’s better to get checked out than wait and see, as meningitis tends to progress very quickly.

Who is most at risk?

Anyone can get meningitis, but the risk is higher for very young babies and older people. Immune-compromised people – such as those undergoing chemotherapy – are also at higher risk for the infections that can cause meningitis. Outbreaks in younger adult populations, like we are seeing at the University of Kent, tend to happen because of the increased exposure and spread of the bacteria that can cause meningitis.

How does the infection spread?

The bacteria that cause meningitis can spread by close contact, such as kissing and sharing drinks, or through coughing and sneezing. Large events that bring lots of people together can therefore be associated with outbreaks of meningitis, because of the increased likelihood that people become exposed to the bacteria. This is one of the reasons why university students can be at increased risk for meningitis, because there is a lot of social mixing in this group.

Why are healthy students at the University of Kent being given antibiotics?

This is a precautionary measure to ensure that anyone who has been exposed to the bacteria, but perhaps hasn’t developed symptoms yet, is protected. The antibiotics will help kill the bacteria, hopefully before it has a chance to establish an infection or invade the meninges and brain.

Is there a vaccine against meningitis and should I get one?

Several vaccines are available to protect against the most common causes of bacterial meningitis. These are effective and safe medicines that prevent you from getting seriously ill if you do become exposed to meningitis-causing bacteria. The MenB, MMR and pneumococcal vaccines are all recommended for babies in the UK because they protect against bacteria that cause meningitis infections in young children in particular.

How is bacterial meningitis treated, and what happens if it’s caught late?

Antibiotics are the main course of treatment for bacterial meningitis. The earlier these drugs are given, the more likely the infection will be stopped in time before any serious damage occurs.

However, some bacteria can become resistant to antibiotic treatment. When this happens, antibiotics are no longer effective at preventing meningitis. This is why vaccines are very important for protecting yourself against these infections as they can work to protect you even against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

What should I do if I think I or someone I know has meningitis?

Meningitis symptoms typically come on rapidly. If you suspect meningitis, act quickly. The faster that antibiotic treatment is started, the better the outcome is likely to be.

However, Emma Cooper, convener of campaign group, Friends at the End (Fate), said: “The vast majority of people in every single constituency across Scotland are asking for assisted dying to be made available to those who are mentally competent and in the last six months of their life.

Officers say they incident happened at around 6.30pm on Saturday, February 21 on Taylor Road in Hindley Green when the suspected attacker approached the man in his car.

Police have now released images of a man they want to speak to in connection with their investigation.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Officers are appealing for information after a man was attacked while driving on Taylor Road in Hindley Green, Wigan.

The incident was reported on Taylor Road in Hindley Green (Image: GMP)

“At around 6.30pm on February 21, the victim was in his car when he was approached by a man who punched him twice in the face.

“He then left the scene.

“As officers continue their investigation, they have released images of a man they would like to speak to, as it is believed that he could help with their enquiries.”

The images released by police show a man in a green jacket, blue trousers and grey trainers.

Anyone with any information can call police on 101 or use their Live Chat service online, quoting log 2549 of 21/02/26.

Alternatively, members of the public can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Picnic in the Park will take place on Saturday, June 6, in Northumberland Square, North Shields.

It promises a full day of entertainment, activities, and live music while raising money for the charity’s work supporting young people and the wider community.

Helen Thompson, from the organiser YMCA North Tyneside, said: “Picnic in the Park is about so much more than one day of celebration.

“It is about bringing people together, showcasing the incredible talent we have here in the North East and reminding everyone what community really looks like.

“Every ticket booked, raffle sold and pound raised helps us continue delivering vital services to those who need them most.”

Now in its fourth year, the free event runs from 10am until 4pm and attracted more than 2,000 visitors in 2025, raising over £3,500.

Funds raised last year went towards supported housing, youth programmes, community meals, and wellbeing services.

The morning will feature children’s rides, entertainers, face painting, family activities, and a tombola and raffle.

From midday, the main stage will host live music, food, and drink from popular local traders, including a mobile bar.

Organisers are inviting aspiring performers to submit audition videos for a chance to appear in the final line-up by visiting ymcanorthtyneside.org/events/picnic-in-the-park-2026.

Tickets can be booked on Eventbrite. While entry is free, attendees can opt for a donation ticket if they wish to contribute.

All donations will support YMCA North Tyneside.

Three Tennessee teenagers are suing Elon Musk‘s AI chatbot Grok for allegedly generating sexually explicit deepfake photos of them without their knowledge or consent.

In a complaint filed in federal court in northern California Monday, lawyers for the three teens — named only as Jane Doe 1, 2, and 3 — accuse Grok’s parent company xAI of “shattering” the girls’ lives by doing almost nothing to prevent the chatbot from generating child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

“Nearly all the companies creating, marketing, and selling AI recognized the dangers of such a tool and chose to enact industry-standard guardrails that would prevent the use of their products child sex predators. xAI did not,” the complaint reads.

“Instead, xAI — and its founder Elon Musk — saw a business opportunity: an opportunity to profit off the sexual predation of real people, including children.”

It is the first lawsuit filed by minors over Grok’s ongoing deepfake porn scandal, which caused governments around the world to launch investigations into the company and forced xAI to restrict Grok’s output.

Starting last May, Musk and his executives gave users the ability to ask Grok to “undress” photos of real people down to their underwear. By January 2026 usage had exploded, leading to thousands, perhaps millions of nonconsensual sexualized deepfakes — including some that appeared to depict children.

Monday’s lawsuit, which accuses xAI of breaking child pornography laws by knowingly creating, possessing, and distributing such material on its servers and systems, is seeking class action status — meaning it could potentially grow to encompass thousands of people.

According to the complaint, the plaintiffs’ nightmare began when Jane Doe 1 received an anonymous tip-off on Instagram that nude photos and videos of her and other minors were circulating on the social media service Discord.

Using AI, someone had taken real photos of her at her school’s homecoming dance or in the yearbook and edited them into sexually explicit or suggestive material, often rendering her fully nude.

Police ultimately traced the alleged perpetrator and arrested them in December 2025. But when they searched the person’s device, they found similar photos of Jane Doe 2, Jane Doe 3, and 15 other girls, many of whom attended the same school.

The perpetrator allegedly distributed these images on Telegram and other services, “trading” them around the internet in exchange for sexually explicit material of other teenagers.

The lawsuit alleges that these images were created using a third-party app that pays xAI money to license Grok’s image-generation capabilities under a different brand.

“Plaintiffs will have to spend the rest of their lives knowing that their CSAM images and videos may continue to be trafficked and traded online by child sex predators,” the complaint read.

“And Plaintiffs will live every day with the constant anxiety of not knowing whether someone they encounter has seen this invasive and sexually explicit content created with images of them as children.”

All three plaintiffs suffered severe emotional distress, the lawsuit said, with two of them struggling to sleep and eat.

The lawsuit accuses xAI of failing to implement industry-standard safeguards such as rejecting user requests for sexual material, blocking any such material that the AI accidentally generates, checking images against databases of existing CSAM, and providing a rapid takedown service for victims of non-consensual sexual images.

On the contrary, the lawsuit argues, xAI proudly advertised Grok’s “Spicy Mode” and its ability to generate sexual images, leaving only minimal guardrails against users asking it to create CSAM.

The lawsuit notes that Grok’s ‘system prompt’ — a set of instructions governing every interaction an AI chatbot has with its users — explicitly tells it to avoid “creating or distributing child sexual abuse material”. But that rule is easily circumvented, the lawsuit argues, and insufficient to prevent abuse.

xAI did not immediately respond to questions from The Independent, and the company has not yet answered its claims in court.

In January, Musk claimed: “I not aware of any naked underage images generated by Grok. Literally zero…

“There may be times when adversarial hacking of Grok prompts does something unexpected. If that happens, we fix the bug immediately.”

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan accused Pakistan of killing at least 400 people in an airstrike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in the Afghan capital late Monday. It marked a dramatic escalation of a conflict that began late last month and has seen repeated cross-border clashes as well as airstrikes inside Afghanistan. International calls for a ceasefire have gone unheeded.

Pakistan dismissed the accusation that it had hit a hospital, saying its strikes, which were also conducted in eastern Afghanistan, did not hit any civilian sites.

Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat, in a post on X, said the airstrike had hit the hospital in Kabul at about 9 p.m. local time, destroying large sections of the 2,000-bed facility. He said the death toll had “so far” reached 400 people, while about 250 people had been reported injured.

Local television stations posted footage on X showing security forces using flashlights as they carried out casualties while firefighters struggled to extinguish flames among the ruins of a building. Fitrat said rescue teams were working to control the fire and recover the bodies.

The strike came hours after Afghan officials said the two sides exchanged fire along their common border, killing four people in Afghanistan, as the deadliest fighting between the neighbors in years entered a third week.

Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the strike on X, accusing Pakistan of “targeting hospitals and civilian sites to perpetrate horrors.” In a post before the death toll rose into the hundreds, he said those killed and injured were patients at the hospital.

“We strongly condemn this crime and consider such an act to be against all accepted principles and a crime against humanity,” he posted.

Pakistan dismisses the allegations

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s spokesperson, Mosharraf Zaidi, dismissed the allegations as baseless, saying no hospital was targeted in Kabul.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar posted on X in the early hours Tuesday that the Pakistani military had “carried out precision airstrikes” targeting military installations in Kabul and the eastern province of Nangarhar. He said “technical support infrastructure and ammunition storage facilities” at two locations in Kabul were destroyed.

“All targeting has been done with precision only at those infrastructures which are being used by Afghan Taliban regime to support its multiple terror proxies,” he wrote.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information said earlier that Mujahid’s claim was “false and misleading” and aimed at stirring sentiment and cover what it described as ”illegitimate support for cross-border terrorism.” It said Pakistan’s targeting was “precise and carefully undertaken to ensure no collateral damage is inflicted.”

UN calls on Afghanistan to combat militants

The strike came hours after the U.N. Security Council called on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to immediately step up efforts to combat terrorism. Pakistan accuses Kabul of harboring militant groups, particularly the Pakistani Taliban, which it says carry out attacks inside Pakistan.

The Security Council resolution, adopted unanimously, didn’t refer specifically to attacks carried out in Pakistan but condemns “in the strongest terms all terrorist activity including terrorist attacks.” The resolution also extends the U.N. political mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, for three months.

Pakistan’s government accuses Afghanistan of providing safe haven to the Pakistani Taliban, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, as well as to outlawed Baloch separatist groups and other militants who frequently target Pakistani security forces and civilians across the country. Kabul denies the charge.

The latest conflict

The fighting — the most severe between the two neighbors — began in late February after Afghanistan launched cross-border attacks in response to Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan that Kabul said killed civilians. The clashes disrupted a ceasefire brokered by Qatar in October after earlier fighting killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants.

Pakistan has declared it is in “open war” with Afghanistan. The conflict has alarmed the international community, particularly as the area is one where other militant organizations, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, still have a presence and have been trying to resurface.

On Sunday, Tarar said the military has killed 684 Afghan Taliban forces, a claim rejected by Afghanistan, which says casualties are far lower. Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry and other officials have said Afghanistan has killed more than 100 Pakistani soldiers.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said Afghanistan’s Taliban administration crossed a “red line” by deploying drones that injured several civilians in Pakistan last week.

Responding to those attacks, Pakistan’s air force over the weekend struck equipment storage sites and “technical support infrastructure” in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar Province, saying it was being used for attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul said Pakistan hit two locations, including an empty security site and a drug rehabilitation center that sustained minor damage.

In Kabul, Afghanistan’s administrative Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi said defending sovereignty is the duty of all citizens. Speaking during a meeting with political analysts and media figures, Hanafi expressed regret over civilian casualties in recent Pakistani attacks, saying the war was imposed on Afghanistan.

____

Ahmed reported from Islamabad and Becatoros reported from Athens, Greece. Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Riaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed.

The footage, which went viral after being uploaded to social media, captured hundreds of people fleeing from a beach after what was believed to be gun shots rang out

Footage uploaded to social media captured hundreds of people fleeing from a beach in the United States after what was believed to be gunshots rang out during spring break.

The noise that spooked beach goers enjoying spring break at Daytona Beach in Florida on Saturday, March 14 was actually harmless: people crushing water bottles.

“There were zero gunshots on the beach,” Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Monday, March 16 after the video went viral.

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Four shootings have been reported in Daytona Beach since Friday, but none of them were the cause of the panic captured on video, the New York Post reported. A total of 80 arrests were made at Daytona Beach over the weekend and six weapons were seized.

The footage from the incident is understood to have been captured from a hotel balcony and captured the moment screaming beachgoers scattered on the beach.

In a separate incident, one shot was fired after a fight erupted at a nearby bar on Friday. Authorities said no one was injured in the shooting.

An hour later, one person was shot outside a nearby Crunch Fitness, it has been reported.

Separately, two shootings were reported beachside on Saturday, police said.

Police are investigating if any of the shootings were directly tied to spring break.

It started in Weymouth on Friday, March 13, and will see the DJ travel all the way to Edinburgh in a 1,000km journey.

He will be passing through County Durham on Wednesday, March 18, if all goes to plan.

Greg’s tandem will travel north up the Durham coast from Hart towards Seaham, sticking close to the cliff edge and the old pit villages.

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The route runs past Blackhall Rocks and Horden, where colliery land has been turned into open paths and viewpoints, then on through Easington and South Hetton.

It’s straightforward on paper but with unpredictable weather anything could happen.

From Seaham, Greg will cycle into Sunderland territory, through Ryhope and dropping into Hendon on the approach to the city.

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This route swaps cliff‑top views for housing estates, sea walls and retail sheds, before the tandem makes its way into the centre of Sunderland to finish.

This is Greg’s third challenge for Comic Relief, despite previously vowing not to take on another.

He completed five triathlons in five days in 2016, and in 2018, cycled between and climbed the UK’s three highest peaks: Scafell Pike, Snowdon, and Ben Nevis.