A LAW student was left blind and unable to walk after contracting meningitis while celebrating her 21st birthday at the nightclub at the centre of the deadly outbreak.
Annabelle Mackay’s housemates saved her life after rushing her to hospital when she collapsed in Canterbury, .
Annabelle Mackay, centre, is recovering in hospital
Annabelle collapsed at her shared house after celebrating her 21st at Club ChemistryCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Annabelle is among 15 people , including two who died.
Last night it emerged nine-month-old
She is stable but her family, of Folkestone, fear she could have lasting difficulties for life.
officials are considering a national B vaccine campaign after the strain was first identified in .
Many students in Canterbury, thought to be the source, have travelled home early for Easter, mostly on , fuelling fears the outbreak may spread.
In-person assessments have been cancelled, exams moved online and students are queueing for masks and .
Around 5,000 in halls are being offered vaccines.
A University of Kent student, 24, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s like Covid Mark 2.
“A lot have left. Three of my housemates have gone. Nobody is going out. It’s really, really quiet.”
Dr Susan Hopkins, chief of the UK Health Security Agency, said: “In my 35 years in , healthcare and hospitals, this is the most cases I’ve seen in a weekend with this type of infection.
“The explosive nature is unprecedented.”
Sixth-former Juliette is one of two who died
Student queues at the University of KentCredit: Gary Stone
student Annabelle collapsed at her shared house after celebrating her 21st at Club Chemistry, thought to be the outbreak’s ground zero, and another club.
Ciara Pearce, 21, and Jessica Lyons, 20, carried her downstairs to a car after her mum, on the phone, sensed something was “dangerously” wrong.
Annabelle was taken to an urgent care centre where she could not “see, move or speak”.
Hospital doctors later confirmed meningitis B. Annabelle said last night: “I’d be dead if it wasn’t for my mum and housemates.
“I am so grateful for how quickly they acted and for not taking advice from the 111 helpline.
“My body had started to shut down by the time they carried me out of our door half an hour later.”
Annabelle partied on March 4 until 3am on the 5th.
The UKHSA is tracing everyone who visited Club Chemistry on March 5, 6 or 7 to give them antibiotics.
As Annabelle visited the day before, the agency said contact tracing dates are under review and could be expanded as cases emerge.
A visitor from was also diagnosed over the weekend, linking the surge back to Kent.
Senior officials are still investigating the bacterial strain to see if it is new or particularly infectious.
A single pill is about 90 per cent effective at stopping the bacteria, and clears it from the throat of asymptomatic carriers, who are most likely to spread illness.
One , 18, a sixth-former at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham.
Five county have confirmed cases.
Yesterday we told how , 21, is believed to have become infected after passing round a vape at Club Chemistry.
Health Secretary yesterday warned students against snogging and sharing drinks or vapes.
He told MPs: “This is an unprecedented outbreak and a rapidly developing situation.”
Keeleigh Goodwin, 21, is believed to have become infected after passing round a vape
A University of Kent student has described the situation as ‘like Covid Mark 2’Credit: Gary Stone
Most people above primary school age are unprotected against MenB because routine jabs for babies were only introduced in 2015.
Mr confirmed that he has told the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to review who receives them.
Officials expect more cases to emerge as the bacteria is very common, although most people do not get ill.
For those who do, symptoms can take up to two weeks to kick in then get worse very quickly.
Annabelle first felt unwell last Tuesday March 10 then deteriorated until she called 111 on the 11th with neck stiffness, light sensitivity, and a high fever.
Following a 16-minute assessment call just after 3pm, she was told to stay home.
Less than 30 minutes later her mum Laura May, 57, spoke over the phone and begged her housemates to get help.
Second-year student Annabelle said: “When the 111 woman told me to stay home, I was like, ‘Are you sure?’ But she told me to stay put and drink water.
“I called Mum and she knew straightaway something was very wrong with me.”
Annabelle’s sight started to return after two days. She is awaiting assessments.
She added: “We were only in Chemistry for about half an hour then went to a club called Venue. I shared drinks there and was there all night so I might have caught it there.”
The UKHSA contacted her on March 13 to ask who she had been in contact with following her diagnosis. She said she is confused as to why the UKHSA has said no cases were reported on March 14.
Laura has been sleeping on the hospital floor for almost a week.
She said the hour-and-a-half drive to her daughter in hospital was “impossible to describe”. Laura added: “I am so relieved she is alive and here with us today.
“I am grateful to her friends for acting so quickly. Annabelle doesn’t exaggerate or panic. I could hear her respiratory rate was up.
“It might not have been noticeable to others, but I could tell.”
The NHS said: “111 call handlers are trained to identify patients with priority symptoms and respond rapidly. Responses can be escalated at any time when new symptoms develop or new information known.”
Additional reporting by Eleanor Gunn.
PRIVATE JABS RISE
By
DEMAND for paid-for meningitis B jabs is surging after the UK Health Security Agency confirmed the strain caused four of 15 reported cases.
Superdrug said bookings at its nurse clinics for the service were 65 times higher than last week. It recommends two to three jabs at £110 each, the same price as Boots.
Asda offers a full menB course for £179.76. The jab was introduced for tots in 2015 so most young people born before then are not protected, unless they have had it privately.
Charity Meningitis Now has called for teenagers and young people to be vaccinated against meningitis B on the NHS. It added that menB jabs should be available on the high street “at a fair price”.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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