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In the Canterbury region, 11 individuals are currently hospitalized in serious condition, among them several students aged between 18 and 21, according to recent reports.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reaching out to more than 30,000 students, staff, and their families in response to the outbreak.
The agency has issued a warning to students, urging vigilance.
Trish Mannes, deputy director for the UKHSA in the south-east, expressed sympathy in a statement: “We recognize that this tragic situation affects many at the university and within the broader community. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the friends and families of those impacted.”
She emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Meningococcal disease can advance swiftly, so it is crucial for students and staff to be aware of the symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia.”
“Students are particularly at risk of missing the early warning signs of meningitis because they can be easily confused with other illnesses such as a bad cold, flu or even a hangover.”
The university said it was “deeply saddened” by the students death.
Symptoms of meningococcal include:
- Severe, unexplained limb pain
- Difficulty waking up
- High-pitched crying in babies
- A severe headache
- Being upset by bright lights
- A stiff neck
- A red-purple rash which doesn’t disappear when pressed with a glass