The strain of meningitis behind several cases in the Kent outbreak has been confirmed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to be group B, also known as MenB.
Addressing the incident, the agency said it will confirm the nature of the other cases “when we have the full results”.
Two people have died as a result of the outbreak, among 13 confirmed cases since March 13.
A Year 13 pupil in Faversham and a student at the University of Kent have died in the outbreak, with others being treated in hospital.
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Two Year 13 pupils from other schools have contracted meningitis B.
One student from Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys was admitted to hospital with meningitis, and another from Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford.
Young people born before 2015 are not protected against meningitis B unless they have had the jab privately.
It was introduced on the NHS for babies in 2015.
The strain of meningitis behind the outbreak in Kent has been confirmed as group B, also known as MenB
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Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam of the UKHSA said that the pace of the current outbreak was “certainly unusual” but that their response had been “very swift”.
She insisted that the first cases "were taken extremely seriously", as public health teams worked to identify the "closest contacts who would benefit from preventative antibiotics".
The official also spoke about fears that the outbreak could spread across the country.
"As serious and devastating as this current outbreak is, it’s very much contained in the local area in Canterbury and Kent; we’re not seeing this spread more widely," she assured.
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A Year 13 pupil in Faversham and a student at the University of Kent have died in the outbreak
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Dr Amirthalingam added that the disease doesn’t spread easily: "It really requires very close, prolonged contact or intimate contact such as kissing."
The UKHSA has urged those who attended a nightclub in Canterbury to come forward for preventive antibiotics against meningitis amid the viral outbreak.
It has called on those who visited Club Chemistry between March 5 and 7 to claim the treatment as a precautionary measure.
"Advice has been issued to 16,000 staff and students at the University of Kent, where antibiotics are also being offered to those who need them," an official statement read.
The UKHSA has urged those who attended a nightclub in Canterbury to come forward for preventive antibiotics against meningitis amid the viral outbreak
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Two sites in Kent were open for the public to collect antibiotics on Monday, and a further two are planned to open this morning.
Hundreds of students and locals queued at the campus on Monday to receive the precautionary antibiotics.
Louise Jones-Roberts, the owner of Club Chemistry, said that more than 2,000 people would have visited the venue over the three dates. Those who have visited the venue now need to be traced for antibiotics.
Ms Jones-Roberts said she had been told earlier that one confirmed case of meningitis had been linked to the club last weekend, but the dates had now been confirmed as being linked to the weekend of March 5 to 7.
The UKHSA said that the pace of the current outbreak was 'certainly unusual' but that their response had been 'very swift'
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Following the outbreak, the University of Kent cancelled in-person exams this week, while the student union called off its events.
Trish Mannes, UKHSA Regional Deputy Director for the South East, said: "Our thoughts remain with the friends and family involved, and we understand that many people in the university and wider community will be affected by this sad news.
"Our investigations have identified that some cases visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury, and it is important that anyone who visited the club between 5 and 7 March now comes forward for preventative antibiotic treatment as a precaution, as well as those offered antibiotics at the university – these students are being contacted directly through the university.
"If you think you may have symptoms of meningitis, do not hesitate to seek medical help by contacting your GP or calling NHS 111."
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