Kent student hits out at university for its handling of meningitis outbreak

LocalHealth & Fitness
19 Mar 2026 • 1:11 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • A student at the University of Kent has hit out at the institution for its handing of the meningitis outbreak and has called for better hospital provisions in the area.
  • Leonardo Veiga, 20, said the university were slow to respond the the crisis and that students first found out about it from news outlets.
  • The business management student has been isolating and has also taken the antibiotics handed out at the Senate building on campus, before “probably getting the jab (vaccination) tomorrow”.
  • Mr Veiga said: “I think there was a big panic. It was completely reasonable panic because, why are we finding out from a news outlet when we’re literally in the town where it’s been affected? If this isn’t a sign to get A&E in Canterbury, which is 24/7, then I don’t know what is. It’s so sickening.”
  • He added: “I was not going to wait for two hours just to get antibiotics. So, I just stayed in my room and isolate myself until I could get it.”

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