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• Is your school affected? Email: dan.woodland@.co.uk

The UK Health Security Agency is asking anyone who went to a nightclub in Canterbury to seek antibiotics after a meningitis case was reported in Kent.

A student from Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, named Juliette, and another student from the University of Kent have passed away following infection with the illness. Two additional schools have also reported instances of meningitis among their students.

Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford also stated that one of its Year 13 pupils has been diagnosed with meningitis and is currently “undergoing proper hospital care.”

“Our thoughts go out to them and their family during this challenging period,” said the school’s headteacher.

The institution had previously informed guardians about the possible condition, stating that it was implementing ‘preventive measures according to health recommendations.’

A student in Year 13 from the Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys has also been hospitalized due to meningitis.

The school’s principal, Simon Langton, disclosed the boy’s condition earlier today, stating, “Our thoughts are with him and his family during this challenging period, and we wish for a quick recovery.”

Amelia McIlroy, the principal of Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, shared that one of its “much-loved Year 13 students” had passed away due to meningitis.

She stated, “We are all completely heartbroken. Our love and thoughts are with their family and friends. Our main focus right now is ensuring the safety, welfare, and support of every member of our school community during this incredibly sorrowful period.”

We will collaborate with UKHSA to make sure that all necessary measures are implemented to safeguard our students and staff.

She said: “If your child is not feeling well—especially if they have vomiting, purple or bluish marks resembling bruises, an unexplained high fever, or cold hands and feet—you should get them medical help right away.”

Casey Marlow, 19, is another individual affected by the meningitis outbreak. She was taken to the hospital a few days following her and her friends’ visit to a Canterbury nightclub to mark her birthday.

Emma Marlow, Casey’s mother, who is 38 years old, spoke to the Daily Mail today from her daughter’s side in an isolation room at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

She allowed this website to feature the disturbing image of her daughter, who looks frail and tired following a meningitis diagnosis.

Mrs. Marlow, a detention officer based in Ashford, stated that Casey started experiencing illness a few days following the night out, and her health worsened rapidly.

Mrs. Marlow said to the Daily Mail, “Casey went to the nightclub on Friday, March 6, and a few days later mentioned she had a sore throat, but initially, we didn’t give it much thought.”

Then on Saturday, she arrived at my house and rang me, expressing that she felt terrible, as she had a high fever, a stiff neck, and a severe headache.

She appeared very pale, and we immediately took her to the hospital, where she has remained ever since. She is in isolation, but she is starting to regain some color and is receiving a lot of motherly attention.

Casey, employed at a nearby Five Guys burger shop, mentioned to her mother that she had ‘felt unwell’ throughout the week following her night out at a club, attributing it to a ‘bug’.

Mrs. Marlow said, “We didn’t think it was anything serious, just one of those common illnesses going around. She mentioned she had no energy and felt extremely tired, but by Saturday when she was admitted, she had a very high fever and looked terrible.”

You simply don’t believe that something like this could happen to you or someone in your family.

Mrs. Marlow stated that Casey, who is expected to fully recover with antibiotics, was at Club Chemistry in Canterbury along with another girl and two boys.

Two other females who were present at the event on Thursday were exchanging vaping devices, with one now hospitalized following an emergency room visit on Saturday night.

Keeleigh Goodwin, 21, resides in a shared house in Canterbury and has been identified as having meningitis B. She is currently hospitalized and is anticipated to remain there for a minimum of one week.

Meningitis spreads via close contact, such as kissing, and microbiology specialists have today verified that the Canterbury cases involve the severe bacterial type of the illness.

Eleven individuals are currently in critical condition, with the majority also thought to be university students.

Medical professionals specializing in infectious diseases consider the outbreak to be ‘uncommon’ and possibly connected to a mix of reduced immunization levels following the Covid-19 pandemic and a ‘novel variant exhibiting distinct characteristics’.

The ACWY-135 vaccine is administered to teenagers in England who are between the ages of 13 and 14, during Year 9. Specialists note that the vaccination rate among students stands at 73 percent.

Over 30,000 students and faculty members on campus have received notifications from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), urging them to remain cautious about potential symptoms. The university has delayed certain in-person examinations and transitioned others to an online format.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.  

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