Club linked to deadly meningitis outbreak to reopen

A nightclub believed to be the centre of a fatal meningitis outbreak in Canterbury is planning to reopen.

Club Chemistry shut on 15 March after public health officials confirmed several linked cases in the city, including two people who had died.

Owner Louise Jones-Roberts, who previously told the BBC it would not reopen until the outbreak was under control, confirmed it would resume trading on Thursday.

According to the nightclub's social media, it "carried out two thorough cleans" as a precaution since its closure.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said 20 meningitis cases were confirmed, with no increase to that number in more than a week.

Vaccines against the strain and preventative antibiotics were later offered to anyone who had attended the venue from 5 March among other eligible groups, including some university students and school pupils.

The risk to the wider population "remains low", UKHSA said, as transmission "requires close and prolonged contact to spread" and the bacteria was "not as contagious as other infections such as measles and Covid-19".

Club Chemistry said: "While transmission between individuals could happen at any venue, it is not caused by the venue itself."

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.