Baby girl fights for life as meningitis outbreak spreads: Fears grow of ‘second wave’ as students flee home for early Easter and reveller reveals bug was in Ground Zero club even earlier than thought
A girl is fighting for her life as a deadly meningitis outbreak in Kent deepens, while fears are growing that a “second wave” of infections could spread across the country as students begin to leave for Easter.
Nala-Rose Fletcher, from Folkestone, remains in a critical condition in hospital after contracting the same strain of meningitis B linked to the Canterbury cluster, despite being vaccinated.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the nine-month-old boy’s case is directly linked; The timing raised alarm among health officials who were already bracing for further infections.
The outbreak, now dubbed a national event, has seen 15 confirmed cases, all requiring hospital treatment, and two deaths, including a 21-year-old schoolgirl at the University of Kent and 18-year-old Juliette Kenny from Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School.
Authorities are increasingly concerned the disease could spread beyond Canterbury as thousands of students head home early for Easter, potentially carrying the infection during an incubation period that can last up to 14 days.
At the center of the epidemic is Club Chemistry, now widely seen as ‘ground zero’.
But new claims suggest the insect was wandering there earlier than first thought; One student revealed that he had been partying at the venue from March 4 to the early hours of March 5 before falling seriously ill.
21-year-old law student Annabelle Mackay was left blind and unable to walk after contracting meningitis B following her birthday celebrations. As his condition rapidly deteriorated, he collapsed at his home in Canterbury.
As Evelina is admitted to intensive care at London Children’s Hospital after nine-month-old Nala-Rose Fletcher falls ill, doctors warn she faces ‘life-changing’ surgery
Law student Annabelle Mackay (centre), 21, was left blind and unable to walk after contracting meningitis B following her birthday celebrations.
Juliette Kenny, 18, died surrounded by her family on Saturday after falling victim to meningitis.
Unable to see, move or speak when she reached emergency care, Annabelle survived thanks to her flatmates’ quick action and her mother carrying her to a car after she realized something was dangerously wrong over the phone.
Doctors later confirmed the diagnosis, and Annabelle said her body began to shut down within a few hours. Sun reports.
Her case became a stark warning of how quickly the disease can spread and how vital early intervention is.
In response to the escalating crisis, all 5,000 students living in University of Kent halls of residence have been asked to collect around 11,000 doses of emergency antibiotics. A targeted vaccination program is also being implemented.
A single dose of antibiotics is highly effective in preventing the contraction and spread of this disease in 90 percent of cases.
There are four centers open in and around Canterbury, including the Gate Clinic and Canterbury Hospital in Kent, where hundreds of people were treated yesterday. The nurse of the clinic, which usually serves as a sexual health center, said: ‘We had hundreds of people here today.
‘We treat anyone who works at the university or thinks they may have been exposed.’
In scenes reminiscent of the pandemic, masks are being handed out to visitors as they arrive at Westgate Hall, usually a community hall for salsa lessons and bake sales but now a makeshift clinic doling out doses.
Scenes of students queuing for antibiotics outside the University of Kent in Canterbury today
Queues formed outside the University of Kent in Canterbury today due to a meningitis outbreak
Among those visiting was Ryan Neil, 23, who sought antibiotics as a precaution after partying at Club Chemistry on March 5.
The Canterbury Christ Church student said: ‘I have no symptoms but thought better safe than sorry.’
Fellow student Megan Wood, 21, who was at the nightclub the same night, also said she was worried about the possibility of contracting meningitis.
‘I thought I should be safe and take antibiotics because who knows what we might have gotten from the club?’ he said.
Charlotte Taylor, 23, who studies Cognitive Psychology and Neuropsychology, said everyone at the University of Kent was scared.
‘There are a lot of mixed messages on campus right now and it’s not a nice place to be right now.
‘I didn’t go to the club but everyone at university is so close-knit that I thought it would be better to come here and get antibiotics.’
A university spokesperson said: ‘In line with advice from our colleagues in public health, we have contacted all students today to explain that students living in our university accommodation on campus are being offered antibiotics as a precaution.’
Initially, treatment was limited to people in certain blocks of accommodation and anyone visiting the nightclub.
Club Chemistry in Canterbury linked to meningitis outbreak yesterday
Queues formed outside the University of Kent in Canterbury today due to a meningitis outbreak
However, as case numbers increased, the case count was expanded to include all students on campus and anyone who may have been exposed to the virus through social contact.
Efforts continue to trace more than 2,000 people who attended Club Chemistry during the period, while all 94 staff at the venue were treated with antibiotics after one employee was taken to hospital.
Urgent clinics across Canterbury are overwhelmed; Hundreds of people queued for precautionary treatment at places such as Kent and Canterbury Hospital and Westgate Hall, where scenes were likened to a Covid outbreak.
With the fear that the epidemic, which has already caused the death of two young people, may spread further, the fourth school in the district was also alerted due to a suspicious case.
Highworth Grammar School in Ashford became the last school to confirm the case after a Year 13 pupil was taken to hospital with suspected meningitis.
Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford and Simon Langton Boys’ Grammar School in Canterbury each have one pupil in hospital with an infection.
Students on campus described experiencing an atmosphere of fear and confusion, with many choosing to take antibiotics even if they were asymptomatic. One said the interconnected nature of university life meant ‘everyone feels at risk’.
With meningitis B killing around one in ten people infected, health officials are warning the situation could get worse in the coming days, especially as people are dispersed across the UK.
They continue to emphasize that although antibiotics are extremely effective at preventing infection, speed is critical and anyone who may have been exposed should seek treatment immediately.
