{"id":375596,"date":"2026-04-12T07:15:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T07:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/375596\/"},"modified":"2026-04-12T07:15:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T07:15:11","slug":"i-still-cant-believe-people-died-of-meningitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/375596\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I still can’t believe people died of meningitis’"},"content":{"rendered":"

People impacted by a fatal meningitis outbreak in Kent have told the BBC “it was a crazy time”.<\/p>\n

A 21-year-old University of Kent student and Juliette Kenny, an 18-year-old sixth former at a school in Faversham, died from the illness, which infected multiple people in March.<\/p>\n

Matt Jewel, a third-year student at the university, said it feels a “lot longer than a month ago”.<\/p>\n

“A friend of mine was one of the first patients to go to hospital with meningitis, but she is completely healthy now,” he told the BBC. “We’re lucky.”<\/p>\n

‘Panic’<\/p>\n

Jewel, who studies English, said students were now “more wary of symptoms” than before the outbreak.<\/p>\n

“Meningitis was something we never would have thought about before.”<\/p>\n

“Looking back, it was a crazy time.”<\/p>\n

The 21-year-old – who works at Club Chemistry, the Canterbury nightclub where the outbreak reportedly started – said his finances had become a “bit tight” because the venue was closed until recently<\/a> and he could not work.<\/p>\n

“It is good to be back,” he added.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Juliette Kenny (pictured) died from meningitis in March [Family handout]<\/p>\n

George Retter, a third-year student at the University of Kent, told the BBC he never got particularly worried about the outbreak.<\/p>\n

“There was a lot of panic,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I don’t want to say sensationalist, however the news coverage was a little overdone.”<\/p>\n

“But everyone was well within their rights to be scared,” he added.<\/p>\n

The history student said one “silver lining” was that the deadline for his dissertation got extended by a week because of the outbreak.<\/p>\n

“I was quite thankful for that,” he told the BBC.<\/p>\n

Retter added that it had been a tough start for first years at the university, but most people in their final years “wanted to go out and make the most of it”.<\/p>\n

“Well, at least that is my plan.”<\/p>\n

‘Straight to ICU’<\/p>\n

Candice Skinner, whose daughter Tyra was hospitalised with meningitis, said it was a scary illness because of the “huge, quick and drastic” effect it had on her child.<\/p>\n

After showing “flu-like symptoms” on Thursday, she said by Saturday Tyra was feverish, vomiting and had a rash over her stomach.<\/p>\n

“They [the hospital] put her in straight into the ICU [intensive care] and started with medication.<\/p>\n

But she said Tyra was now “back to herself”.<\/p>\n

Skinner said one good thing to come from the outbreak was that people were now more cautious of sharing things like vapes and drinks.<\/p>\n

“If you feel ill or something like that, it’s better not to go out.<\/p>\n

“You just don’t know what you have,” she continued.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Retter (pictured) said he and his fellow students were making the most of it [Supplied]<\/p>\n

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) was first alerted to a case of Meningitis B by the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate on 13 March.<\/p>\n

It said there were no new new cases reported in recent days in an update on 26 March.<\/p>\n

Tens of thousands of antibiotics and vaccines have been offered.<\/p>\n

Kent and Medway Integrated Care System said eligible people can book in for a second dose of the vaccine via an online booking system from 13 April.<\/p>\n

It said more information will be released that week.<\/p>\n

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook<\/a>, on X<\/a>, and on Instagram<\/a>. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk<\/a> or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.<\/p>\n

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