Students at the University of Kent are demanding the campus be shut down immediately after the UK Health Security Agency declared the meningitis outbreak a ‘national incident’.
A Change.org petition has already been signed by nearly six thousand students, demanding that the university halt all in-person classes, exams and events until the situation is under control.
The number of cases in Kent has jumped to 20, up from 15 yesterday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed. Nine have been confirmed in the lab, while 11 remain under investigation. Six of the confirmed cases are meningitis B.
The outbreak has claimed two lives so far, 18-year-old sixth-form pupil 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 meet demand for vaccines and antibiotics.
The National Pharmacy Association confirmed today that no meningitis B vaccines are currently available for private purchase.
The university, in collaboration with health officials, are offering more than 5,000 students a meningitis vaccine as well as antibiotics to prevent infection.
However, the students who started the petition believe the institution should be doing more to protect them.
The empty campus at the University of Kent in Canterbury today amid the meningitis outbreak
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 hospitalisations, has caused understandable concern among students and staff.
‘Despite the seriousness of the situation, in-person exams and other campus activities are continuing.
‘These activities require large numbers of students to gather in enclosed spaces for extended periods.
‘Meningitis and sepsis are serious medical conditions that can develop rapidly and require urgent attention.
‘Many students feel forced to choose between attending exams or protecting their health.
‘Universities have a responsibility to prioritise the wellbeing of students and staff. We are calling on the University of Kent to take precautionary steps.’
The petition organiser, who asked to remain anonymous, said: ‘I started this petition not to criticise the university but to raise awareness and ensure students are properly informed during a very concerning time.
‘Many students felt they were still in the dark about the seriousness of the meningitis and sepsis cases on campus.
‘With people having tragically died and being hospitalised, it’s understandable that students are worried about continuing normal activities in large enclosed settings like exam halls.
‘The petition simply asks the university to prioritise student safety, communicate transparency and consider temporary measures that would help the campus community.’
One student wrote in the comments of the petition: ‘I will not be attending my exam if they do not change my courses to online. I have faith they will, as friends in other courses have received emails moving exams online, but psychology students have had zero communication.
‘I would rather fail and resit than risk infection and passing it on to vulnerable family members.’
Another said: ‘We had a water shortage and the university closed the campus. Now, a life-threatening disease has killed a student and infected many, yet the campus expects us to risk our health. This is not how an educational institution should operate.’
University officials say they are following public health guidance and keeping the campus open, while urging students to watch for fever, headache, stiff neck or vomiting and seek medical help immediately if they develop these symptoms.
Dr Bharat Pankhania, senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School, told the Daily Mail: ‘Targeted antibiotics for close contacts are the key response to this contained outbreak, not lockdowns or broad restrictions.’
Juliette Kenny, 18, died on Saturday surrounded by her family after falling victim to meningitis
The outbreak is believed to have started at Club Chemistry nightclub in Canterbury, which experts warn may have acted as a ‘super-spreader’ event. Cases are expected to rise in the coming days.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting told BBC Breakfast: ‘My heart goes out to the families of those two young people who have tragically died.’
He added the cases ‘throw into sharp relief how serious’ meningitis can be, but insisted the general risk to the public is ‘very low’.
He said the disease is spread through close contact such as sharing drinks, vapes or kissing, and not through general spaces like trains.
A normal year in the UK sees around 350 cases of meningitis, according to Mr Streeting, about one per day.
He said the Canterbury outbreak is unusual for its speed and scale, which is why authorities are rapidly providing antibiotics and rolling out targeted vaccinations.
Economics student Mohammed Olayinka, 21, said he stayed on campus to avoid risking transmission to family. ‘You don’t know if you have it, if you’re asymptomatic,’ he said.
‘It’s a bit of a ghost town, with some people panicking and leaving. I can’t blame them. There is an air of uncertainty.’ He took the antibiotics as a precaution.
Architecture student Sophie, who lives off-campus, said she had ‘no idea’ how to get a meningitis vaccine.
‘Most friends have gone home, it’s so quiet now. I am waiting to take the antibiotics until I know if I was in close contact with anyone who got sick.’
UKHSA came under fire in the House of Commons for its handling of the outbreak.
Deputy chief medical officer Dr Thomas Waite said: ‘This is by far the quickest growing outbreak I have ever seen in my career. While it is primarily affecting Kent, it is of national significance.’
UKHSA chief executive Susan Hopkins added: ‘This looks like a super-spreader event with ongoing spread within university halls.
‘The explosive nature of infections over a single weekend is unprecedented.’
She warned that meningococcal bacteria can have a fatality rate between one in 20 and one in five depending on immunity.
Louise Jones-Roberts, owner of Club Chemistry, said she was only alerted to the outbreak on Sunday via Instagram, days after the first cases.
She has closed the club indefinitely and given antibiotics to all 94 staff members. Officials are tracing over 2,000 revellers who may have been exposed.
Student Ingi Pickering, 22, said: ‘The initial communication was awful. I would have stayed in if the public had been warned earlier.’
Four schools across Kent now have confirmed cases, and hundreds of people are being offered antibiotics. Laboratory scientists are investigating a possible mutant MenB strain.
All 5,000 students living in the University of Kent halls are now being urged to collect emergency antibiotics. Initially reserved for certain blocks and nightclub visitors, 11,000 doses were made available yesterday.
A targeted vaccination programme for hall residents will also be rolled out in the coming days.
A University of Kent spokesperson said: ‘The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority.
‘We are working closely with the UK Health Security Agency around advice and support and based on their guidance, our campus remains open.
‘We have, however, made the decision to move assessments that were scheduled for this week from in-person 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), are rolling out the first targeted Meningitis B vaccination programme to all students living on our Canterbury campus.
‘Alongside this, we will continue to offer precautionary antibiotics to staff and students who may be affected.
‘This is part of our ongoing commitment to offer a swift response and reassurance to support Kent students at this difficult time.’
