A teenage pupil who died after in Meningitis outbreak in Kent has been named.
The headteacher at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham has paid tribute to Year 13 pupil Juliette.
Headteacher Amelia McIlroy said Juliette was “a lovely girl” as she offered her condolences to her family.
She said the focus now was on the safety and wellbeing of the rest of the school community.
In a statement, she said: “It is with great sadness that we are confirming the loss of Juliette, a much loved and treasured member of our school community.
“Juliette was a student at our school for seven years. She was incredibly kind, thoughtful and intelligent and she loved our school and was very happy here.
“Juliette embraced everything that school had to offer with great enthusiasm and joy and her humour and positivity were captivating.
“She was a genuinely caring and attentive listener, a true friend, who listened with warmth, respect and sincere interest to her peers and to our staff.”
Health officials say antibiotics are being given to people who may have been in close contact with cases as a precautionary measure | PA
She continued: “In short, she was a lovely girl, her beautiful smile, her loving nature and her sense of fun will be hugely missed. We are all devastated.
“Our love and thoughts are with her family and friends at this terribly sad time.
“Our priority now is the safety and well-being of all members of our school community and we are continuing to work closely with UKHSA.”
Meanwhile, a letter sent to parents at The Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford, Kent, said a year 13 student is in hospital with “a suspected case” of meningitis.
The letter read: “We are writing to inform you that a student in Year 13 has been admitted to hospital with a suspected case of meningitis.
“At this stage we have no confirmed diagnosis, but we are taking precautionary steps in line with public health guidance.
“We understand that news like this can be worrying. Our priority is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students and staff and to keep you fully informed.”
Staff and students, some wearing face masks, queue to receive antibiotics at the University of Kent in Canterbury
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The UKHSA said on Sunday specialists are interviewing affected individuals and their families to “help identify all close contacts and arrange antibiotics to limit spread.”
Meningococcal bacteria can cause serious illness, including inflammation of the lining of the brain and blood poisoning, which can rapidly lead to sepsis.
Anyone can get meningitis but it is most common in babies, children, teenagers and young adults and it can spread very quickly in places such as universities and colleges.