Hundreds of face mask-wearing students queue after deadly meningitis outbreak

Health & Fitness
17 Mar 2026 • 12:56 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • An outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease, with symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia, has led to 13 cases and two deaths in the Canterbury area of Kent.
  • A Year 13 student from Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham and a University of Kent student have died following the outbreak.
  • Students at the University of Kent queued for antibiotics in "Covid-esque" scenes, with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the university advising on symptoms and providing antibiotics to close contacts.
  • The University of Kent has cancelled in-person assessments and exams for the week, and a Canterbury nightclub has closed after being contacted by the UKHSA regarding a diagnosed individual.
  • The UKHSA is leading the response, and the incident highlights the risk of meningitis in young adults, with a mother whose daughter died from the disease calling for increased vaccination.

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