‘Lock us down now!’ Kent students launch drive to reintroduce Covid-era restrictions as meningitis outbreak spreads

Students at the University of Kent are demanding an immediate closure of the campus after the UK Health Security Agency declared the meningitis outbreak a ‘national incident’.

A. Change.org petition The statement has already been signed by nearly six thousand students, demanding that the university stop all face-to-face classes, exams and events until the situation is under control.

The United Kingdom Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) announced that the number of cases in Kent increased from 15 to 20 yesterday. Nine have been laboratory confirmed, while 11 are under investigation. Six of the confirmed cases are meningitis B.

The outbreak has claimed two lives so far: 18-year-old sixth-form student Juliette Kenny and a 21-year-old University of Kent student.

Cases have also been reported outside Kent, including in London and France, and pharmacies are struggling to keep up with demand for vaccines and antibiotics.

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy confirmed today that there is currently no meningitis B vaccine available for private purchase.

In collaboration with health authorities, the university offers meningitis vaccination to more than 5,000 students, as well as antibiotics to prevent infection.

However, the students who started the petition believe that the institution should do more to protect them.

Students queue for antibiotics outside the University of Kent in Canterbury today

The petition reads: ‘Students at the University of Kent are increasingly concerned about reports of meningitis and sepsis affecting members of the campus community.

‘The confirmation of two deaths, along with reports of hospitalizations, has caused understandable concern among students and staff.

‘Despite the seriousness of the situation, face-to-face exams and other campus activities continue.

‘These activities require large numbers of students to gather in enclosed spaces for long periods of time.

‘Meningitis and sepsis are serious medical conditions that can develop rapidly and require urgent intervention.

‘Many students feel they have to choose between taking exams and protecting their health.

‘Universities have a responsibility to prioritize the welfare of students and staff. We call on the University of Kent to take precautionary steps.’

The organizer of the petition, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘I started this petition not to criticize the university, but to raise awareness and ensure that students are properly informed during this worrying period.

‘Many students felt they were still in the dark about the seriousness of meningitis and sepsis cases on campus.

‘With people tragically dying and being hospitalised, it is understandable that students are concerned about continuing their normal activities in large indoor environments such as exam halls.

‘The petition simply asks the university to prioritize student safety, publicize transparency, and consider interim measures to assist the campus community.’

A student wrote in the comment of the petition: ‘I will not take my exam if they do not change my courses to online. I believe they will, as my friends in other classes have received emails moving exams online, but communication from psychology students has been zero.

‘I would rather fail and resist than risk infection and pass it on to vulnerable family members.’

Another said: ‘We had a water shortage and the university closed the campus. A life-threatening disease has now killed one student and infected scores of others, but the campus expects us to risk our health. ‘An educational institution should not operate this way.’

While university officials say they are following public health orders and keeping the campus open, they urge students to be aware of fever, headache, stiff neck or vomiting and to seek immediate medical attention if these symptoms occur.

Dr D., senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School. ‘Targeted antibiotics for close contacts are the main response to this contained epidemic, not lockdowns or broad restrictions,’ Bharat Pankhania told the Daily Mail.

Juliette Kenny, 18, died surrounded by her family on Saturday after falling victim to meningitis.

The outbreak is believed to have started at Club Chemistry nightclub in Canterbury, and experts warn it could be a ‘superspreader’ event. Cases are expected to increase in the coming days.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting told BBC Breakfast: ‘My thoughts go out to the families of these two young people who tragically died.’

He added that the cases “certainly bring into relief” how serious meningitis can be, but insisted the overall risk to the public is “very low”.

He said the disease spreads not through public areas such as trains, but through close contact such as sharing drinks, e-cigarettes or kissing.

According to Mr Streeting, there are around 350 cases of meningitis in the UK in a normal year; This means approximately one case per day.

He said the Canterbury outbreak was unusual in its speed and scale, so authorities quickly provided antibiotics and rolled out targeted vaccines.

Mohammed Olayinka, a 21-year-old economics student, said he stayed on campus to avoid the risk of transmitting the virus to his family. ‘If you’re asymptomatic, you don’t know if you have it or not,’ he said.

‘This place is like a ghost town where some people panic and leave. I can’t blame them. There’s an air of uncertainty.’ He took the antibiotic as a precaution.

Architecture student Sophie, who lives off campus, said she had ‘no idea’ how to get the meningitis vaccine.

‘Most of the friends have gone home, it’s very quiet now. ‘I’m waiting to take antibiotics until I know if I’ve been in close contact with someone who’s sick.’

The UKHSA has faced criticism in the House of Commons for its handling of the pandemic.

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Thomas Waite said: ‘This is the fastest growing epidemic I have seen in my career. Although it primarily affects Kent, it is of national importance.’

UKHSA chief executive Susan Hopkins added: ‘This looks like a superspreader event continuing to spread in university halls.

‘The explosive nature of infections over a single weekend is unprecedented.’

He warned that the mortality rate from meningococcal bacteria, depending on immunity, could be between one in 20 and one in five.

Club Chemistry owner Louise Jones-Roberts said she was only alerted to the outbreak via Instagram on Sunday, a few days after the first cases.

He closed the club indefinitely and administered antibiotics to all 94 staff. Authorities are tracking more than 2,000 revelers who may have been exposed.

Student Ingi Pickering, 22, said: ‘The initial communication was awful. ‘If the public had been warned earlier I would have stayed at home.’

Cases have been confirmed in four schools across the city and hundreds of people are being offered antibiotics. Laboratory scientists are investigating a possible mutant strain of MenB.

All 5,000 students living in the University of Kent halls are now being asked to urgently collect antibiotics. 11,000 doses of the drug, initially reserved for certain blocks and nightclub visitors, were made available yesterday.

A targeted vaccination program for hall residents will also be implemented in the coming days.

A University of Kent spokesperson said: ‘The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority.

‘We are working closely with the UK Health Safety Agency on advice and support and based on their guidance our campus remains open.

‘However, we have decided to move the assessments planned for this week from face-to-face assessments to online. Support services are available for any members of our community who may need them during this difficult time.

‘Today, the University, in partnership with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), is launching the first targeted Meningitis B vaccination program for all students living on our Canterbury campus.

‘Alongside this, we will continue to offer antibiotics as a precaution to staff and students who may be affected.

‘This is part of our ongoing commitment to providing rapid response and reassurance to support Kent students at this difficult time.’