BBCTwo students at the University of Kent have died following an outbreak of "invasive" meningitis.BBC South East understands that a further 11 students from the Canterbury area are currently in hospital and reported to be seriously ill.More than 30,000 students, staff and their families are being contacted by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to inform them of the situation.Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord and can be serious if not treated promptly.A UKHSA spokesperson said it was arranging antibiotics for some students in the Canterbury area following the outbreak, and that the specific strain of the disease has not been identified.Symptoms of meningitis include a high fever, being sick and a severe and worsening headache, but can also cause life-threatening sepsis.Anyone becoming unwell with symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia is urged to go to their closest A&E department or call 999.This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.CanterburyMeningitisUniversity of Kent