A sixth form pupil who died in a meningitis outbreak in Kent has been remembered as an “incredibly kind, thoughtful and intelligent” student.
Amelia McIlroy, headteacher at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, paid tribute to the Year 13 student, who she named as Juliette.
Mid-Kent has become the centre of an outbreak that caused the death of the sixth form pupil in Faversham and a student about 10 miles away at the University of Kent in Canterbury.
A further 11 people were taken ill with symptoms of the disease, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.
Meningitis outbreak live updates
“It is with great sadness that we are confirming the loss of Juliette, a much loved and treasured member of our school community,” Ms McIlroy said on Monday.
“Juliette was a student at our school for seven years. She was incredibly kind, thoughtful and intelligent and she loved our school and was very happy here.
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“Juliette embraced everything that school had to offer with great enthusiasm and joy and her humour and positivity were captivating.”
Ms McIlroy said the school in Faversham, near Canterbury, has been working closely with the UKHSA.
She added that the community’s “love and thoughts” were with Juliette’s family and friends.
“She was a genuinely caring and attentive listener, a true friend – who listened with warmth, respect and sincere interest to her peers and to our staff,” she said.
“In short, she was a lovely girl – her beautiful smile, her loving nature and her sense of fun will be hugely missed. We are all devastated.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of students at the University of Kent have lined up to receive doses of antibiotics on the campus in Canterbury, with some wearing face masks.
The university confirmed on Monday that one of its students had died from invasive meningitis.
Among the students queueing to receive the antibiotics was law and criminology student Kirab Rhoda, who said her mother had offered to fly her home to Uganda when news of the outbreak broke.
“I feel reassured because the school cares, I feel safer than not any action taking place,” the 18-year-old said.
“This is really assuring to all students.”
Law student Millie Inglis, 21, said the experience “feels like a repeat, it feels very COVID-esque”.
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Louise Jones-Roberts, owner of Club Chemistry in Canterbury said she had been contacted by UKHSA as part of contact tracing efforts, after an infected patron visited the venue on the weekend.
“We have been told somebody was in our club at the weekend who has since been diagnosed with meningitis,” she said.
“They have asked us if we have any methods for tracing who has been in to us.”
Meanwhile, a letter has been sent out to parents at The Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford in Kent notifying them that a year 13 student was in hospital with “a suspected case” of meningitis.
Matthew McDonagh, 16, and his brother Luca, 17, were at a party in Whitstable on Saturday, where one guest has since been diagnosed with the disease.
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Another person from their friendship circle is already in an induced coma after contracting meningitis.
Matthew said: “It’s quite scary. Like, just like, I can’t believe it. It’s just insane. Yeah, it’s actually happening since Covid. I thought this literally never happened again, and then I’m in like, a massive queue.”
