Three University of Kent cheerleaders hospitalised as meningitis outbreak takes maintain
Three individuals linked to a meningitis outbreak in Kent are members of a university cheerleading society, according to one participant.
Olivia Parkins, 18, a member of the cheerleading society at the University of Kent, informed the Press Association that three confirmed cases within their group are currently hospitalised. The classical civilisations student was on campus on Thursday morning, lining up for a vaccine.
She told PA: “I know quite a lot of people who are in hospital with it – a lot of people from the cheerleading society which I’m part of… I also live in the block where the outbreak happened. It was one of the two blocks that had to come in to get antibiotics.”
(Image: PA)
Ms Parkins revealed she was at her home in Bromley when she learned about the outbreak. She added that she has been in touch with the affected individuals, noting: “So far they’re OK.” The student praised the “good communication” surrounding the outbreak.
After receiving the vaccine, Paris Summer, 22, a psychology student from Twickenham, argued that students should have been alerted about the outbreak earlier, following the deaths of two individuals.
She said: “They just don’t really seem very prepared. I feel like, surely, they knew before someone actually ended up passing away. I feel like we could have found out a lot sooner.”
Aarohi Gupta, 21, an economics student from High Wycombe, expressed: “It was very scary, very worrying. Obviously, we didn’t really know what to do. And the uni hadn’t really told us much. So, I think that was extra concerning. We found out when the rest of the public did.”
(Image: PA)
Tumi, 20, a computer science student at the University of Kent, decided against returning home to prevent the spread of the infection.
The student, who opted not to disclose her surname, stated: “Because I think if everyone leaves you kind of, if you’re carrying it, you don’t know, then you take it to your hometown. I just don’t think it’s quite safe, so I’ve just decided to stay here.”
The number of cases of meningitis linked to an outbreak in Kent has risen to 27, health officials have said.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that as of 5pm on Wednesday, 15 cases had been confirmed and a further 12 were under investigation.
The 27 cases either confirmed or suspected represent a rise on the 20 reported on Wednesday. Two students have died in the outbreak.
Currently, nine of the 15 confirmed cases are known to be caused by menB.
