A meningitis B outbreak is happening in the UK. What people should know | CNN

Health officials in the United Kingdom are investigating a cluster of meningococcal infections, including two deaths. The situation has drawn renewed attention to meningococcal group B, or MenB, an infection that can cause severe illness and has been associated with outbreaks, especially among adolescents and young adults. To better understand what this means and how people can protect themselves, I spoke with CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University. She previously served as Baltimore’s health commissioner. CNN: What is meningococcal group B disease, and how serious is it? Dr. Leana Wen: Meningococcal group B disease is a severe bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis. It can lead to meningitis, which affects the lining of the brain and spinal cord, or to a bloodstream infection known as septicemia. Sometimes both occur together. Although rare, these are medical emergencies because people can become critically ill within hours. In the current situation in Kent, as of Thursday, UK health officials reported 15 laboratory-confirmed cases and 12 suspected cases under investigation, bringin