University Students Hit by Meningitis Outbreak

0:00On March 15, two students at the University of Kent have died after an outbreak of invasive meningitis. Eleven others from the Canterbury area are now in hospital and seriously ill. The UK Health Security Agency is contacting more than 30,000 students, staff members, and their families to alert them. Officials are also handing out antibiotics to some in the area, but they haven't pinned down the exact strain yet. M meningitis attacks the protective layers around the brain and spinal cord, and they can turn deadly without quick treatment. Common signs include a high fever, vomiting, a bad headache that worsens, and even sepsis. Students often brush off these symptoms as a rough cold, flu, or hangover, which puts them at higher risk. If you spot these warning signs, get to the nearest emergency room right away, or dial 999. Health teams are on top of this and watching closely for any changes.