A meningitis outbreak which has claimed the lives of two people has spread to a second university in Kent as health officials battle to halt Britain’s worst outbreak of the infection in a generation
Canterbury Christ Church University revealed this afternoon that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) had confirmed a case of meningitis in one of its students.
The university said it ‘informed the limited number of close contacts of the individual that they should receive precautionary antibiotics, if they have not done so already’.
Officials also confirmed the case was linked to the initial cluster from events at Club Chemistry nightclub in Canterbury on March 5, 6 and 7. At least 10 people have been diagnosed with the disease after attending the venue across these dates.
The student’s mother Candice Skinner confirmed her daughter, Tara, is being treated for meningitis in hospital after visiting the nightclub.
She said the 20-year-old woke up on Thursday feeling unwell and began developing ‘a red eye’ over the weekend before being taken to hospital on Monday.
A student from Kent University and an 18-year-old pupil from Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham have died after being diagnosed with the disease.
Five other schools – Dane Court Grammar School in Broadstairs, Simon Langton Grammar School and Canterbury Academy, both in Canterbury, Highworth Grammar School and Norton Knatchbull School, both in Ashford – have also confirmed cases.
The overall number of cases linked to the Kent outbreak rose to 20 today, up from 15 yesterday after being declared a national incident by the UKHSA.
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