Spooked Kent University students speaking to the Daily Mirror have said they are seeing people fleeing for home after collecting antibiotics in the wake of the meningitis outbreak
Terrified students at Kent University are queuing for lifesaving antibiotics and then immediately getting on buses to head home.
Many are so scared of catching meningitis that they are leaving to return immediately to their families across the UK. Some have been seen waiting for buses with their packed suitcases. Ethan Norris, 24, from Canterbury who works in the housekeeping department at Tyler Court and partner Nancy O’Sullivan, 23, from Hornchurch, Essex, a primary school teacher, queued for their pills.
Nancy said: “I’m seeing social media videos of people being picked up in the middle of the night to get out of here. I’ve seen students with suitcases getting on buses now.”
READ MORE: BBC Doctor gives urgent meningitis symptom list as outbreak leaves two deadREAD MORE: Everything to know about ‘new meningitis strain’ after Kent outbreak kills two
“They are getting their anti biotics and leaving. Exams have been cancelled. What we’ve seen is a load of university students packing up their stuff, there’s panic because this has appeared so suddenly. Students are too scared to be on campus. You don’t know how far it has spread already. It’s terrifying.”
Ethan added: “I’ve seen a student taken out of the one of the blocks on a stretcher. We queued for over an hour and 40 minutes for an antibiotics pill. We’ve heard that two have people have passed away so it’s just something we needed to do. It’s scary.”
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it had been notified of 13 cases with signs and symptoms of meningitis from Friday to Sunday in the Canterbury area of Kent. Some students at the University of Kent have been given antibiotics while others are in hospital. The specific strain of meningitis has not yet been identified.
Thomas Ibbotson, a third year studying Business and Spanish, says students have been told that the outbreak started at a Fresher’s event, which was also attended by local sixth formers. Others have spoken of the fear for their friends who are in hospital.
Thomas said: “I got told the people most exposed are freshers who were out on this night out. They started at a house party and then went on to Club Chemistry later in the evening. In all of the emails to us, the University has been saying that if you had been to Club Chemistry on Friday or Saturday, that is where you would be most at risk.
“The freshers then came back into the accommodation where it has spread. I’m not in the block that has been affected, but I live around Tyler Court where there has been a case in one block so it’s very worrying.
“I’m going home so I want to be extra safe and I’d rather get the antibiotics, that’s why I’m queueing up here. But I really don’t know if the university is doing this in the most efficient way, given the queue time is 40 minutes right now. They put a letter underneath our flat door saying if you spend time in the affected areas or had friends who lived in the affected blocks, you would need to come to the Senate to pick up antibiotics.”
Daisy Gower, a third year student studying psychology, says she was told to get the antibiotics by the university.
“I’ve just been informed that I might have been in close contact with someone who’s affected in my dance class. So we’re just here to get the antibiotic just in case. It’s really quite a concerning situation. It has caused a lot of panic here but hopefully everyone here taking the antibiotic will prevent it from spreading.”
Student Ben Segneri has spoken of his fear he has caught it after displaying symptoms this morning.
He said: “I woke up this morning with some cold symptoms, a headache and some muscle pains. It really could be anything around this time of year but I want to make sure I am protected just in case so I will be taking the antibiotic.
“I heard about the outbreak about a day before everyone else because I know someone who works at the hospital so we were warned about the cases in advance. We were just wauiting for the university to announce it and they ended up doing last night. Every single soceity and any space to socialise has been shut. People seem very very stressed about it.”
A spokeswoman for the UKHSA said: “We can confirm that UKHSA has worked with the University of Kent to provide advice letters to all 16,000 students, advising on recent cases, signs and symptoms, how to obtain antibiotics, and what to do if they feel unwell.”
Not all 16,000 students at the university will be given antibiotics, only those who are regarded as “close contacts” of those affected, such as living in the same accommodation block.
Helen Whately, the Conservative MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, told PA she was expecting to be briefed on Monday about the situation. “I’ve been in contact with the Health Secretary and I’m expecting to hear from the UKHSA this morning,” she said.
“I’m trying to get information about what is being done locally to trace contacts and identify which students and school pupils are at risk.
“Also I want schools to be given briefings on what steps they should take and the advice to give to parents.” The UKHSA said on Sunday specialists are interviewing affected individuals and their families to “help identify all close contacts and arrange antibiotics to limit spread”.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login