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Meningitis outbreak live: Kent university cancels all in-person exams as hundreds queue for antibiotics

Hundreds of students are queuing at the University of Kent for antibiotics after two people died in a meningitis outbreak

Tributes are paid to one of the victims, Juliette, a Year 13 student at a grammar school in Faversham

A 21-year-old university student has also died, while 11 others are understood to be seriously ill in hospital – how meningitis spreads

More than 30,000 people in the Canterbury area are being contacted by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) about the outbreak

The University of Kent says it's now working to move in-person events online as the UKHSA says "precautionary" antibiotics are being given to close contacts of the cases

Kent meningitis outbreak: what students need to know

Manal Mohammed does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University of Westminster provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

If you are a student in the UK, news of an outbreak of meningitis affecting university students in Kent may be causing you alarm.

The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed 13 cases of invasive meningococcal disease, a severe infection that can cause meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning), and is providing antibiotics and guidance to students and their close contacts. Two young people, a year 13 school pupil and a university student, have died. Others are seriously ill.

Tributes paid to ‘lovely’ sixth-form pupil who died in Kent meningitis outbreak

Second victim named as Juliette as long queues of students wait for antibiotics at the University of Kent

Tributes have been paid to a sixth-former confirmed as the second person to have died after an outbreak of meningitis in Kent.

The sixth-form student was named as Juliette by teachers at Queen Elizabeth’s grammar school (QEGS) in Faversham, who described her as a kind and intelligent young woman.

“It is with great sadness that we are confirming the loss of Juliette, a much-loved and treasured member of our school community. 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,” said the headteacher, Amelia McIlroy.

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