A long line of students queued for antibiotics in “Covid-esque” scenes after two people died following an outbreak of meningitis in Kent.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it was notified of 13 cases of the bacterial infection, invasive meningococcal disease, with signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia, in the Canterbury area between Friday and Sunday.
A year-13 student from Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham, who has been named by her family as Juliette, and a University of Kent student have died following the outbreak.
Juliette’s father told the BBC her family are: “beyond devastated and they have no words to express their loss”.
It is understood that some of those in hospital have been put into induced comas.
At the university’s campus in Canterbury on Monday, students spoke of their worries as they queued for antibiotics.
The UKHSA has worked with the university to provide letters to all 16,000 students, advising on recent cases, signs and symptoms, how to obtain antibiotics, and what to do if they feel unwell.
Not every student at the university is being given antibiotics – only those regarded as close contacts of the confirmed cases, such as those who live in the same accommodation blocks.
The specific strain of bacterial meningitis has not yet been identified, but several students were wearing masks, and staff handed out more to those waiting.
Law student Millie Inglis, 21, said she got a message to collect antibiotics because someone in her dance class “had some issues with it”.
She said: “We were just pretty shocked. It just feels like a repeat, it feels very Covid-esque. As long as everyone’s all right, though, I guess that’s all that matters really. We’re just making sure that it doesn’t get any worse.”
Matthew McDonagh, 16, and his brother Luca, 17, were at a party in nearby Whitstable on Saturday with another person they said has now been diagnosed with the disease.
Luca, who is in year 13, said no one in his year group at Simon Langton Grammar School was allowed to go in for lessons on Monday.
He and his brother, who is at the same school, were told to come to the University of Kent to receive precautionary antibiotics.
Matthew said: “It’s quite scary… I can’t believe it. It’s just insane. It’s completely unbelievable. I never thought this would happen again [after Covid].”
In a letter, seen by the BBC, the headmaster of the Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys told parents that one of its year 13 students has been admitted to hospital with meningitis.
A university spokesperson told The Independent: “We recognise that this is a very sad and worrying time for our community, and we are doing everything we can to offer advice and support. This is a regional public health matter and not specific to the university.
“The response is being led by the UKHSA, and we are working with them and partners as the situation unfolds. Known contacts of existing cases in our community have been contacted and advised on next steps.
“Students impacted are being offered antibiotic treatment on our Canterbury campus. We have contacted all our students and staff to ensure they have all the latest advice and support they need, and we will continue to update via email and social media.
“As a further precautionary measure, there will be no in-person assessments or exams this week. Students have been contacted directly with details of alternative arrangements.”
A Canterbury nightclub will remain closed for the rest of the week, having been contacted by the UKHSA to try to trace people who may be affected.
The UKHSA has urged anyone who visited the nightclub on March 5, 6 or 7 to come forward for antibiotics as a “precautionary measure”.
Club Chemistry owner Louise Jones-Roberts said on Monday: “We have been told somebody was in our club at the weekend who has since been diagnosed with meningitis.”
She said her thoughts were with the families of those affected by the meningitis outbreak.
“I’m devastated,” she said. “I can’t imagine what the families are going through. Our thoughts are with the families. Meningitis affects healthy, young people and this is devastating.”
The headteacher of Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham paid tribute to the year-13 student who died, describing her as “a much loved and treasured member of our school community”.
Amelia McIlroy said: “Juliette was a student at our school for seven years. She was incredibly kind, thoughtful and intelligent and she loved our school and was very happy here.
“In short, she was a lovely girl – her beautiful smile, her loving nature and her sense of fun will be hugely missed. We are all devastated. Our love and thoughts are with her family and friends at this terribly sad time.
“Our priority now is the safety and wellbeing of all members of our school community, and we are continuing to work closely with UKHSA.”
Meningitis can cause serious illness, including inflammation of the lining of the brain and blood poisoning, which can rapidly lead to sepsis.
Anyone can get meningitis, but it is most common in babies, children, teenagers and young adults, and it can spread very quickly in places such as universities and colleges.
Last year, mother Julia Styles called for people to be vaccinated against meningitis B, as she spoke to The Independent about losing her 19-year-old daughter Emily Charlotte Styles in 2014.
Emily was staying at her boyfriend’s house nearby, and was airlifted to hospital in Oxford after collapsing when she tried to get out of bed. She did not regain consciousness and died just over 12 hours later, early on New Year’s Day, three months before her 20th birthday.
“It makes no sense to me that people wouldn’t take a vaccine that could literally save [their] life,” Ms Styles said. “They should take these vaccines, especially as they’re available now, absolutely. We didn’t have a choice with Emily.”
