East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust confirmed the delay following an investigation by the BBC.

Dr Des Holden, acting chief executive, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘Our first patient presented on the evening of Wednesday 11 March.

‘We recognise there was an opportunity prior to diagnosis being confirmed on Friday 13 March to notify UKHSA.  

‘We cannot go into the detail of individual patients' care, but the trust has been in close contact with UKHSA since Friday 13 March to discuss the management of patients presenting with suspected meningitis.'

A UKHSA spokesperson said: ‘UKHSA has well established processes for dealing with single cases or cases where there are small numbers of people affected including offering antibiotic prophylactics to household or family members or people that have had an overnight stay during the incubation period.  The events of Saturday night with acutely unwell individuals triggered a largescale public health response on Sunday as the information emerged.'

The UKHSA said large scale public health measures were implemented in response to the identification of acute clusters on the university campus and subsequently to those who attended Club Chemistry nightclub in Canterbury, as this information became available. 

Today's statistics update from the UKHSA shows a further drop in Kent cases to 22 after further testing.