Canterbury University Campus Deserted as Meningitis Outbreak Claims Two Lives
The University of Kent campus in Canterbury has been transformed into a ghost town as frightened students flee following a deadly meningitis B outbreak that has claimed two lives and left thirteen people hospitalized. The usually bustling academic hub now stands eerily quiet, with most undergraduates having packed their bags and departed for their family homes across the United Kingdom.
Emotional Scenes as Parents Rush to Collect Students
Emotional scenes unfolded as frantic parents drove from all corners of the country to collect their sons and daughters. Many students were seen trundling large suitcases toward double-decker buses bound for Canterbury train station, while some anxious drivers wore blue face masks as a precaution. The atmosphere mirrored the early days of the 2020 Covid pandemic, with deserted grounds and minimal activity.
Tom Jefferson, a 20-year-old student, was among the early arrivals queuing for antibiotics at 8:30 am. "I thought I'd get up early and come and get the medicine as soon as I could," he said. "It's cold but once I get it that's me done for the day. I'm then planning on heading back home to London as soon as I can. A lot of my friends have left already."
Panic and Queueing for Antibiotics
Frightened students and staff began queuing for antibiotics at 8:15 am this morning, a full 45 minutes before the emergency medical centre opened. By 8:36 am, 38 people were waiting patiently in the queue, each maintaining a one-metre distance from the person in front. However, by 10:30 am, the queue had completely dissipated as students swiftly collected their medication and departed.
The campus remained unnervingly quiet throughout the morning. The Co-Op and Caffe Nero both opened their doors as usual, but very few students ventured in for coffee or supplies. Two litter pickers continued their routine work, providing the only semblance of normalcy in the deserted environment.
Witness Accounts of the Outbreak's Impact
Ethan Norris, 24, who works in the housekeeping department at the university's Tyler Court accommodation block, and his partner Nancy O'Sullivan, 23, a primary school teacher, both received their antibiotic pills. Nancy observed, "I've seen students with suitcases getting on buses now. They are getting their antibiotics and just leaving. I'm seeing social media videos of people being picked up in the middle of the night to get out of here."
She added, "What we've seen is a load of university students packing up their stuff: there's panic because this has appeared so suddenly. Students are too scared to be on campus. You don't know how far it has spread already. It's terrifying. Exams have been cancelled."
Ethan recounted, "I've seen a student taken out of one of the blocks on a stretcher. We queued for over an hour and 40 minutes for an antibiotic pill. We've heard that two people have passed away so it's just something we needed to do."
International Students Face Additional Hardships
The outbreak has posed particular challenges for international students. Yesterday, two female students wearing light blue face masks were seen close to tears. One simply stated, "I'm just terrified and I want to go home to my family." However, she added with distress, "I can't though as I'm from China. I don't know what to do." This highlights the additional layer of difficulty faced by those unable to easily return to their home countries amidst the health crisis.
The University of Kent campus, typically vibrant with academic life, now stands as a stark reminder of the sudden and severe impact of public health emergencies on educational institutions and their communities.
