A 19-year-old university student was hospitalized for four days after contracting meningitis following a visit to a nightclub now linked to a growing outbreak in Kent.
Alex Razas, an economics student at the University of Kent, said he became seriously ill less than 48 hours after attending Club Chemistry in Canterbury on Friday, March 13. He believes he may have been infected after kissing someone at the venue.
Razas, who also works evening shifts as a bartender, initially developed a severe sore throat before his condition rapidly worsened. Over the following day, he experienced a high fever, muscle weakness, and increasing pain throughout his body.
He described how his symptoms escalated quickly, including severe back pain and a stiff neck that became painful to touch. As his health deteriorated, friends intervened and insisted on taking him to hospital, a decision he later credited with potentially saving his life.
He was admitted to William Harvey Hospital, where he received intensive antibiotic treatment. At one point, his condition caused significant concern for his family, particularly when he took several minutes to regain consciousness.
After four days of treatment, Razas was discharged and given the all-clear on Wednesday.
A friend who drove him to hospital reported that the facility was crowded with students seeking treatment for meningitis symptoms. He said it took approximately four hours before Razas was seen by medical staff.
The case comes amid a sharp rise in meningitis infections in the Canterbury area, with Club Chemistry believed to be a central location in the outbreak. Health officials have linked multiple cases to the venue and surrounding student population.
The outbreak has already resulted in two deaths, including an 18-year-old sixth-form student, Juliette Kenny, and a 21-year-old University of Kent student.
Authorities believe the infection may have spread rapidly among students living in shared accommodation, where close contact and the sharing of items such as drinks, vapes, and utensils may have contributed to transmission.
In response to the surge in cases, health officials have expanded a meningitis vaccination campaign targeting those most at risk. Approximately 15,000 individuals who may have been exposed are now being urged to receive the MenB vaccine as soon as possible.
The vaccination effort includes students who attended Club Chemistry between March 5 and March 15, as well as pupils at four local schools and other university students in Canterbury.
However, the rollout has faced criticism after reports that more than 100 students were turned away from a vaccination site at the University of Kent when it closed at 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting visited the university and confirmed that additional vaccination efforts would be implemented to help contain the outbreak. He said the measures were proportionate and that the situation would continue to be monitored closely.
Officials have emphasized the importance of early vaccination and awareness of symptoms as they work to prevent further spread of the disease.
Students queuing to receive vaccines and antibiotics at the University of Kent campus in Canterbury on Thursday
Images: DailyMail
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