Streeting's comments to the BBC this morning came after the UKHSA declared a national response to the outbreak on Sunday to ensure antibiotics supplies.

The health secretary said a national incident only applies when a health emergency puts ‘critical stress and pressure on the health system' and that did not apply here.

He said the emergency was being ‘managed nationally' by the UKHSA and NHS England but it was not ‘the same as a national incident of the type we saw in the Covid pandemic'.

Streeting described the spread of meningitis which has so far resulted in 20 cases as ‘unprecedented' but added there was no need to seek vaccinations in other parts of the country.

He added he had asked the JCVI to revisit its guidance, however, commenting: ‘I am asking them to look at that. I think that is a sensible precautionary thing to do.'

In an update today, the UKHSA said one individual who had resided in Kent presented to a London hospital with no community contacts in the capital. It is also aware of a baby with confirmed Meningococcal group B infection who is not currently linked to the outbreak and will continue to investigate.

The French authorities also alerted UKHSA on 14 March of a second confirmed case in France from an individual who had attended the University of Kent. 

GPs across the country are being advised to prescribe antibiotics to anyone who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury between 5-7 March and to University of Kent students, if they have been asked to seek preventative treatment.

The UKHSA said: ‘This is a rapidly evolving situation and there may be further cases as those with symptoms are encouraged to seek medical advice.'

Trish Mannes, UKHSA regional deputy director for the South East, said: ‘Around 2,500 doses of antibiotics have now been administered across sites in Kent and we continue to encourage close contacts to come forward for the treatment. This includes those offered at the University of Kent and anyone who visited Club Chemistry between 5-7 March.  This is the main intervention that will help protect people and halt the spread of the outbreak.

‘As a further precaution and together with the NHS, we are beginning to roll out a targeted MenB vaccination programme. This will initially be offered to 5,000 university of Kent students resident at the Canterbury campus, with the possibility that it may be extended, as it is kept under continual review.'