Family 'beyond devastated' by meningitis death as hundreds get antibiotics

A father has confirmed his 18-year-old daughter was one of two young people to have died in a meningitis outbreak in Kent, saying the family are "beyond devastated and they have no words to express their loss".

“- Published A father has confirmed his 18-year-old daughter was one of two young people to have died in a meningitis outbreak in Kent, saying the family are "beyond devastated and they have no words to express their loss"”

BBC

Juliette, who was a sixth form pupil at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham, died on Saturday from the infection.

BBC

A 21-year-old student at the University of Kent has also died, while 11 others were taken to hospital and hundreds of students have received precautionary antibiotics.

Three schools and the university have confirmed cases, with in-person exams and assessments cancelled at the university.

"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\".

"In short, she was a lovely girl,\" she added.

BBC

"More than 30,000 people across Canterbury have been contacted by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which said the outbreak was \"particularly large\" and \"unprecedented in recent years\"."

“- Published A father has confirmed his 18-year-old daughter was one of two young people to have died in a meningitis outbreak in Kent, saying the family are "beyond devastated and they have no words to express their loss"”

BBC

The outbreak is thought to be linked to a nightclub event in the city, with the UKHSA urging anyone who visited Club Chemistry on March 5, 6 or 7 to "come forward for preventative antibiotic treatment as a precautionary measure".