Meningitis B has been confirmed as the strain behind some of the cases the in Kent outbreak, which has killed an 18-year-old pupil and a 21-year-old university student.
Concerns are growing in the region as a third school confirms that a student has been admitted to hospital with the disease, while the University of Kent has cancelled exams.
The father of Juliette, who was a sixth form student at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, said their family are “beyond devastated and they have no words to express their loss”.
Juliette’s head teacher, Amelia McIlroy, said she was “a genuinely caring and attentive listener, a true friend who listened with warmth, respect and sincere interest to her peers and to our staff”.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is advising anyone who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury on March 5, 6 or 7 to come forward for preventative antibiotic treatment as a “precautionary measure”.
Two sites in Kent were open for the public to collect antibiotics on Monday, and a further two are planned to open on Tuesday morning.
At the campus on Monday, students – some of whom were wearing face masks – described their worries as they queued for antibiotics.
Meningitis B confirmed as strain behind outbreak that has left two dead
Some cases of meningitis seen in Kent have been confirmed as meningitis B, health officials have said, as hundreds of people are being urged to get antibiotics to stem the spread of infection.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which is investigating the outbreak that left two young people dead and others in hospital, said it would confirm the strain seen in other cases “when we have the full results”.
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.
It comes as hundreds of people who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury on March 5, 6 or 7 were told to come forward for preventative antibiotic treatment as a “precautionary measure”.
Holly Evans17 March 2026 07:49
Pictured: 18-year-old Juliette killed by meningitis outbreak
The father of an 18-year-old girl killed by a meningitis outbreak in Kent has said that their family are “beyond devastated and they have no words to express their loss”.
Juliette, who was a sixth form pupil at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham, died on Saturday from the infection.
Her head teacher, Amelia McIlroy, said she was “a genuinely caring and attentive listener, a true friend who listened with warmth, respect and sincere interest to her peers and to our staff”.
“In short, she was a lovely girl,” she added.
Holly Evans17 March 2026 07:48
