Deadly meningitis outbreak 'could be linked to Canterbury nightclub' as University of Kent cancels in person exams

At least two people have died, including a Year 13 pupil at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham and a student at the University of Kent.

Some students at the university have been given antibiotics, while others are in hospital, with the university cancelling in person exams for the day.

Club Chemistry on Station Road in the city centre has been linked to the meningitis cases.

The club's owner Louise Jones-Roberts told reporters this morning: "We have been told somebody was in our club at the weekend who has since been diagnosed with meningitis. They have asked us if we have any methods for tracing who has been in to us.

"We have an ID scanner but that is more of a security measure...It takes pictures of some driving licences, ID cards and on so on. We’ve got tickets for events so we could trace ticket-holders, but most people pay on the door.

"I’m devastated. 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."

Long queues could be seen at the university's Senate building this morning as students waited for antibiotics.

A University of Kent spokesman said: "We are deeply saddened to confirm that one student from the University of Kent has died following a case of invasive meningitis.

"Our thoughts are with the student’s family, friends and the wider university community at this extremely difficult time.

"The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. We are working closely with public health teams and are in touch with staff and students to ensure they get the advice and support they need."

Speaking to GB News this morning, former Chair of the British Medical Association (BMA)'s GP Committee Dr Laurence Buckman highlighted some of the symptoms of meningitis.

He told The People's Channel: "In the initial stages, it's astonishingly difficult to tell the difference between that and anything else.

"Every so often we hear of a person who thought they had flu, went to bed and never woke up again because they they actually had meningitis. So presenting with the flu or a cold or actually nothing very specific is how it starts.

"Everyone knows about the rashes, but the trouble is the rash appears quite late. Don't wait for the rash.

"If you have a headache and a fever and things appear to be getting worse, rather than as they would do with flu or colds stabilising quite quickly. If there's a deterioration, particularly if you're not as awake as you were, it's time to act."

Not all 16,000 students at the university will be given antibiotics, only those who are regarded as "close contacts" of those impacted, such as living in the same accommodation block.

Meningococcal bacteria 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.

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