'I still can't believe people died of meningitis'

People affected by the fatal meningitis outbreak in Kent have told the BBC how the experience has left them "more wary" of its symptoms.

A 21-year-old University of Kent student and Juliette Kenny, an 18-year-old sixth former at a school in Faversham, died from the illness, which infected multiple people in March.

Matt Jewel, a third-year student at the university, said it feels a "lot longer than a month ago".

"A friend of mine was one of the first patients to go to hospital with meningitis, but she is completely healthy now," he told the BBC. "We're lucky."

Jewel, who studies English, said students were now "more wary of symptoms" than before the outbreak.

"Meningitis was something we never would have thought about before."

"Looking back, it was a crazy time."

The 21-year-old - who works at Club Chemistry, the Canterbury nightclub where the outbreak reportedly started - said his finances had become a "bit tight" because the venue was closed until recently and he could not work.

"It is good to be back," he added.

George Retter, a third-year student at the University of Kent, told the BBC he never got particularly worried about the outbreak.

"There was a lot of panic," he said.

"I don't want to say sensationalist, however the news coverage was a little overdone."

"But everyone was well within their rights to be scared," he added.

The history student said one "silver lining" was that the deadline for his dissertation got extended by a week because of the outbreak.

"I was quite thankful for that," he told the BBC.

Retter added that it had been a tough start for first years at the university, but most people in their final years "wanted to go out and make the most of it".

"Well, at least that is my plan."

Candice Skinner, whose daughter Tyra was hospitalised with meningitis, said it was a scary illness because of the "huge, quick and drastic" effect it had on her child.

After showing "flu-like symptoms" on Thursday, she said by Saturday Tyra was feverish, vomiting and had a rash over her stomach.

"They [the hospital] put her in straight into the ICU [intensive care] and started with medication.

But she said Tyra was now "back to herself".

Skinner said one good thing to come from the outbreak was that people were now more cautious of sharing things like vapes and drinks.

"If you feel ill or something like that, it's better not to go out.

"You just don't know what you have," she continued.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) was first alerted to a case of Meningitis B by the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate on 13 March.

It said there were no new new cases reported in recent days in an update on 26 March.

Tens of thousands of antibiotics and vaccines have been offered.

Kent and Medway Integrated Care System said eligible people can book in for a second dose of the vaccine via an online booking system from 13 April.

It said more information will be released that week.

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