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  "path": "/health/meningitis-outbreak-kent-grammar-school-juliette",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-17T03:22:41.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "taking antibiotics",
    "Amelia McIlroy, said",
    "Club Chemistry in Canterbury",
    "Iran war 'may spark medicine shortage' just as UK scrambles to contain deadly meningitis outbreak",
    "Thousands urged to take preventive meningitis antibiotics as victim's mother reveals 'awful illness'",
    "University of Kent gives exams and classes update after deadly meningitis outbreak",
    "moved some exams online and delayed in-person exams",
    "Health campaigners have called for the vaccine",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nThe family of a grammar school pupil who died in the Kent meningitis outbreak has said they are \"beyond devastated\" at the loss.\n\nThe family of Juliette, 18, who have requested for her surname to not be publicised, have released a picture of her after she died on Saturday.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe sixth-form student lived in Whitstable with her father Michael, 46, mother Rebecca, 49, and older sister Florence, 20.\n\nHer father told the BBC her family are \"beyond devastated and they have no words to express their loss\".\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\nAnd her grandmother, Linda, said she could not bring herself to \"say anything otherwise I will cry\".\n\nShe added the family was now taking antibiotics after visiting Juliette while in hospital.\n\nThe headteacher of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar in Faversham, Amelia McIlroy, said the 18-year-old was an \"incredibly kind, thoughtful and intelligent\" person.\n\nShe said Juliette \"embraced everything school had to offer\" and added she would be hugely missed.\n\nMrs McIlroy said the school was \"continuing to work closely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)\" to ensure the safety of the school community.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe outbreak has been linked to an event at Club Chemistry in Canterbury, which the affected had recently attended.\n\nThe UKHSA released a message on social media urging those who attended the club on March 5, 6, or 7 to receive antibiotic treatment from one of four locations, including the Senate building at University of Kent.\n\nOther locations include the Gate Clinic at Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Westage Hall in Canterbury, and the Carey Building at Thanet Hub.\n\nThe agency also released a list of symptoms to be aware of, including high fever, severe headache, vomiting, joint muscle pain, and rashes.\n\nPeople who attended the 1,600-capacity venue and have symptoms are asked to call 999 or head to A&E.\n\nThe club owner said more than 2,000 people would have attended across the three dates.\n\n### LATEST ON THE KENT MENINGITIS OUTBREAK:\n\n\n\n\n  * Iran war 'may spark medicine shortage' just as UK scrambles to contain deadly meningitis outbreak\n  * Thousands urged to take preventive meningitis antibiotics as victim's mother reveals 'awful illness'\n  * University of Kent gives exams and classes update after deadly meningitis outbreak\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nA 21-year-old student from the University of Kent also died after contracting the fatal disease, and 11 others are left seriously ill.\n\nTwo Year 13 pupils from other schools have contracted meningitis B.\n\nOne student from Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys was admitted to hospital with the meningitis, and another from Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford.\n\nMore than 30,000 students and staff at the University of Kent were alerted to stay aware of symptoms, and the university has now moved some exams online and delayed in-person exams.\n\nQueues snaked outside the university's senate building after students were issued an urgent appeal to make themselves known.\n\nStudents at the university have been seen wearing masks inside their own flats.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAn ambulance was seen parked on the institution's grounds, with paramedics dressed in protective clothing and face masks.\n\nMeningitis is spread through close contact, such as kissing, and some people believe that sharing vapes could have transmitted the infection throughout the club.\n\nMeningitis B has a vaccine, ACWY-135, which was introduced in 2015, and is received by teenagers between the ages of 13 and 14 in Year Nine.\n\nThe vaccine was introduced in 2015, so most adults born before that date remain unvaccinated against the disease.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHealth campaigners have called for the vaccine to be more widespread, despite the Joint Committee on Vaccination (JCVI) and Immunisation not recommending the vaccine for young adults and adolescents.\n\nA Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: \"Our thoughts go to the family and friends of those who have lost a loved one to meningitis.\n\n\"Decisions on vaccination programmes are made following careful consideration of independent expert advice from the JCVI and it does not currently recommend a routine MenB booster vaccination for adolescents and young adults.\n\n\"We continue to follow JCVI advice, which routinely reviews new evidence as it emerges.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter **",
  "title": "PICTURED: Grammar school pupil who died in Kent meningitis outbreak - as family left 'beyond devastated'"
}