Students queue for emergency antibiotics in the emptying campus
The university campus is normally a place full of laughter,students mingling and exchanging ideas or planning their next big night out.
But many at the University of Kent have fled home after a deadly outbreak of meningitis claimed the lives of two young people and left around a dozen in hospital.
Now the campus is patrolled by health authorities in full hazmat suits overnight,with the only queues for life-saving antibiotics and face masks,not the student union.
Some have holed themselves up in their dorms in fear of spreading the contagion,as others suffer ‘flashbacks to Covid-19’ and have crucial exams cancelled at the last minute.
The outbreak,believed to have spread at Canterbury’s Club Chemistry nearly a fortnight ago,has killed a Year 13 pupil in Faversham called Juliette and a student at the University of Kent.
Matthew McKeague,18,a military history student at the University,said many of his friends had gone.
Hazmat-clad health inspectors patrol Tyler Block in the Canterbury campus
Matthew McKeague,said many of his friends had gone.Isak Rydberg was collecting antibiotics from Westgate Hall in Central Canterbury today and has been left fearful at the situation.He said: ‘I’ve come to pick up antibiotics because of my friends visiting Club Chemistry. I’m worried because I’ve come into close contact with them.‘We are exchange students from Sweden and unfortunately this has all happened when we’ve only got two weeks left here. It has been scary with these two deaths.‘During the pandemic,Sweden was very open,so this is quite unlike what I experienced there. I feel much more under threat now than I ever did with COVID because it didn’t affect younger people much.’A University of Kent spokesperson said they were working with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to formulate their response.They said: ‘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.‘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.’It has emerged French authorities alerted public health officials about a University of Kent student who contracted meningitis.Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the infection of a university student was first flagged on Friday.Streeting added: ‘Both cases lived in private accommodation and at that stage there were no apparent link between the two.’Students at the University of Kent say ‘serious questions’ need to be asked of the authorities over the outbreak believed to have started at a Fresher’s night at a packed nightclub.Louise Jones-Roberts,the owner of Club Chemistry,said a staff member at the club is confirmed to have contracted meningitis and is doing well with treatment. Two others with suspected meningitis have since been given the all clear for the infection.It comes as masks continue to be handed out,social distancing has returned and antibiotics are being handed out at different sites. Ryan Peters,19,said: ‘How did it get this bad is my question? Why was it allowed to spread? After Covid,how has this happened? I thought we would have been more prepared.”Student Jessica Parks,21,said: ‘It’s so scary. A good friend of mine has it. I am terrified. I didn’t want to leave my house yesterday. Today I have been forced to come out to get the medication. ‘It’s horrendous.’Some students were waiting over an hour at the university for antibiotics.
Juliette,a sixth form student who died after contracting meningitis (Picture: BBC/Family Handout)The first victim of the outbreak named was 18-year-old Juliette,a sixth form student from Faversham.Her father tells the BBC that the family are ‘beyond devastated and they have no words to express their loss.’Her family has requested her surname not be publicised.
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