Sepsis Research FEAT is calling for urgent awareness of the link between bacterial meningitis and sepsis following the Meningitis B outbreak in Canterbury, Kent.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has today (17.04.2026) confirmed multiple cases of invasive meningococcal disease, which is a rapidly progressing bacterial infection that can lead to meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and can develop into sepsis if not treated quickly with antibiotics. With thousands of people potentially exposed, Sepsis Research FEAT is urging people to trust their instincts, not ignore changes in symptoms and to seek urgent medical attention if feeling unwell.
To illustrate how quickly infection can turn into sepsis, the research charity is sharing the story of Lily McGarry, a Cardiff third year medical student who developed Meningitis B whilst at university last year. What started with what she thought was a bad cold or ‘freshers’ flu’ progressed within hours to meningococcal septicaemia and septic shock. Lily suffered multiple cardiac arrests and spent months in intensive care before having all four limbs amputated to save her life.
Lily is now working with Sepsis Research FEAT to warn other students and families not to dismiss early symptoms. Her story, together with the tragic events in Canterbury, underlines that although meningitis is uncommon, when it does strike it can lead to sepsis in otherwise healthy teenagers and young adults – especially in settings like student halls and shared houses where infection can spread quickly. Early recognition and urgent medical treatment are critical.
“I thought I had flu – it was the reaction of my friends that saved my life. My key message to other students would be to look out for each other. Starting university is hard enough without having to think about illnesses. Simply learning the symptoms of sepsis could save yours or a fellow student’s life though. Try to ensure that you check your vaccination history with your GP before starting term, and if you haven’t been vaccinated against things like Meningitis or MMR, make sure you do so ASAP.”
Dr Andrew Conway Morris, Medical Director of Sepsis Research FEAT, said:
“The deaths and serious illnesses we are seeing in Canterbury, and Lily’s devastating experience, are powerful reminders that meningitis and sepsis are medical emergencies. Meningococcal infections can progress from flu‑like illness to septicaemia and sepsis in a matter of hours. In high‑density student accommodation, where infections spread more easily, it is even more important that people know the symptoms and trust their instincts if something feels seriously wrong. Bacterial Meningitis is often caused by strains for which we have effective vaccines, and we strongly encourage people to take up the vaccines offered by the NHS to prevent these infections”
The charity is encouraging the public to be aware of common sepsis symptoms, which can include:
- A high or low temperature
- Uncontrolled shivering
- Confusion
- Passing little or no urine
- Blotchy or cold arms and legs
In the wake of the Canterbury outbreak, Sepsis Research FEAT is calling on the public, universities and policymakers to:
- Follow the latest UKHSA advice regarding preventative antibiotics
- Inform yourself about vaccination against Meningitis B
- Share information on meningitis and sepsis symptoms with students, staff and families, especially in high‑density halls of residence and shared accommodation.
- Support research to understand why some meningococcal infections and other bacterial illnesses progress to sepsis, including the role of underlying health conditions, age, living environment and immune response.
- Invest in studies that improve early detection and treatment of sepsis in emergency departments, GP practices, university health services and other front‑line settings.
Members of the public can help by supporting Sepsis Research FEAT’s work to understand and prevent sepsis.
Donations to fund vital research into how infections like meningitis become sepsis and how to stop it, can be made at www.sepsisresearch.org.uk/donate.
Charity background
Sepsis Research FEAT is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to funding research into sepsis and raising public awareness of its symptoms.
Sepsis Research FEAT exists for one powerful reason: to stop sepsis stealing lives by driving research, policy change and public awareness – at scale. Sepsis is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide and everybody is at risk. In the UK, it causes more deaths than breast, bowel and prostate cancer combined, and while it was long thought to affect around 250,000 people a year and cause 50,000 deaths, emerging evidence suggests cases could reach into the millions in the UK and globally.
With sepsis now a top NHS priority, the charity sits at the heart of a growing UK-wide coalition of industry, the NHS, government, academia and philanthropy, guided by the expertise of its Medical Director, Dr Andrew Conway Morris of the University of Cambridge, to deliver research that genuinely changes practice and outcomes.
Sepsis Research FEAT influences national health policy and has led joint awareness campaigns with the Scottish Government since 2019, now expanding into Northern Ireland and England with the ambition of a UK-wide sepsis and prevention campaign, including vaccination. Known for spotting and backing ground-breaking research early, the charity was crucial in helping the GenOMICC study grow into the only critical care or infectious disease genetics programme ever to lead directly to a new effective drug.
By providing seed corn funding to research with scientific potential, supporting PhD studentships, new vaccines, better diagnostics, innovative treatments and vital work to understand sepsis mechanisms, susceptibility and recovery, Sepsis Research FEAT bridges the critical gap between promising ideas and real-world impact – giving partners the chance to be at the heart of life-saving innovation when it matters most.
Key Statistics on Sepsis
- In 2017, there were approximately 48.9 million sepsis cases worldwide, resulting in 11 million deaths, accounting for nearly a fifth of all global fatalities. ***
- Roughly one in five patients diagnosed with sepsis will succumb to the illness, with the mortality rate increasing to one in three for critically unwell patients with low blood pressure (“shock”).
- In the UK, around 50,000 people die from sepsis annually, equating to over 5 deaths every hour – or roughly one every 12 minutes
- There are circa 250k cases in the UK every year – more than breast, bowel and prostate cancer combined
- Around half of those who survive sepsis will go on to experience life-changing consequences – from PTSD to amputations