The heartbroken family of an 18-year-old student who died after contracting meningitis in Kent have said they are ‘beyond devastated’. Juliette, a sixth-form pupil at Queen Elizabeth’s in Faversham was confirmed as one of two victims who lost their lives following a meningitis outbreak in the Canterbury area.

A total of 11 ‘seriously ill’ people were taken to hospital,, with some being put into induced comas. Juliette’s father told the BBC the family are “beyond devastated and they have no words to express their loss”.

Juliette’s head teacher, Amelia McIlroy, said 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 added: “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. Our love and thoughts are with her family and friends at this terribly sad time.”

Three schools have confirmed cases of meningitis. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Monday evening (March 16) it was continuing to investigate the outbreak of meningitis, with 13 cases notified since March 13, including the two deaths.

The second victim was a student at the University of Kent. Students were seen queueing on Monday for antibiotics, many expressing their shock.

UKHSA urged anyone who visited the nightclub Club Chemistry in Canterbury on March 5, 6 or 7 to come forward for antibiotics as a “precautionary measure”. The club’s owner told PA more than 2,000 people would have attended the club over those dates.

Some cases of meningitis seen in Kent have been confirmed as meningitis B, health officials have said. The majority of young people born before 2015 are not protected against meningitis B unless they have had the jab privately. It was introduced on the NHS for babies in 2015.

The headmaster of the Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys also said in a letter to parents that one of its year 13 students has been admitted to hospital with meningitis. An update sent to parents at the Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford, Kent, confirmed a diagnosis for a year 13 student admitted to hospital.

The letter said: “We are writing to update you following our earlier communication regarding the student in year 13 who had been admitted to hospital with a suspected case of meningitis.

“We have now been informed that the diagnosis has been confirmed and the student is receiving appropriate hospital treatment.”

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