Juliette Kenny was one of two students who have died amid a meningitis outbreak in Kent – her father revealed the heartbreaking symptoms she faced just hours before her death
The father of an 18-year-old girl killed by meningitis, amid the Kent outbreak, has revealed the symptoms she faced just 12 hours before the infection took her life.
Juliette Kenny tragically died on Saturday March 14, just a day after she first started showing symptoms, her heartbroken dad Michael Kenny said. The 18-year-old was one of two students who have died after contracting meningitis B in the county. Juliette’s family first noticed something was wrong when she started to vomit and showed discolouration in her cheeks, in the early hours of Friday.
Juliette, a year 13 student at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham, exhibited no other symptoms at that time, her dad said. Mr Kenny added that his daughter had been “fit, healthy and strong” before her death and had completed the practical assessment for her PE A-level on Thursday, March 12.
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The dad said they took Juliette to medics when they noticed her symptoms. He said: “In the morning on Friday, she was taken, by us, to our local emergency drop-in as a discolouration appeared on her cheeks. She was given antibiotics and sent by ambulance to A&E.
“Juliette fought bravely for hours, but despite the fantastic NHS hospital staff fighting alongside her, meningitis took her from us less than 12 hours later. We were with her at the end, and the last sounds that she heard were the voices of those who loved her telling her how very much loved and cherished she is.”
In a heartbreaking statement, Mr Kenny said: “We are incredibly proud parents to two wonderful daughters. Juliette is a force in this world. With her beautifully positive energy she spread fun, love and happiness to those around her and she continues to do so now. The devastation of her loss to us, her family and friends is immeasurable.
“Sharing stories of the empathy, warmth and fun that she created is helping her family and friends through at this time. Her energy continues to make the people who love her find a way. The illness took her from us so quickly.”
Mr Kenny added that he wanted his daughter’s legacy to be “lasting change” and said “no family should experience this pain and tragedy”. He has called for better protection for young people and, along with the Meningitis Research Foundation, has urged the UK to improve access to the menB vaccination for young people.
The menB jab was introduced on the NHS for babies in 2015, meaning the majority of young people born before then are not protected against it unless they have had the jab privately.
Mr Kenny said: “No family should experience this pain and tragedy. This can be avoided. There are young people currently battling this and young people still at risk. As parents, we knew our children would change the world and be a force for good.
“The work to protect young people has started. It needs to be more. Juliette’s impact on this world must be lasting change. Now is the time to ensure families are safe from the impact of meningitis B.”
Vinny Smith, chief executive of Meningitis Research Foundation, said in 2015 the charity’s called for the menB vaccination to be “routinely available” on the NHS for all at-risk age groups was “not taken forward” as it was “judged not to be cost-effective”.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that as of 5pm on Wednesday, 15 cases of meningitis have been confirmed and a further 12 are under investigation.
This takes the total to 27 cases of either confirmed or suspected meningitis, up from 20 on Wednesday. Currently, nine of the 15 confirmed cases are known to be caused by menB.
As of Thursday, the vaccine programme in Kent has been rolled out to anyone who attended the Club Chemistry venue from March 5 to March 15, year 12 and 13 pupils at affected schools, students and staff at the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church university, and close contacts of confirmed or suspected cases.
