A mother has issued a grave warning to parents after her daughter contracted meningitis, which she claims was transmitted through sharing a vape in a nightclub. Khali Goodwin revealed that her 22-year-old daughter, Keeleigh, was fortunate to survive after being urgently hospitalised with severe symptoms including sickness, headaches, and fatigue.
Nightclub Closure Amid Outbreak Investigation
Keeleigh Goodwin attended Club Chemistry in Canterbury, Kent, a venue that has since been closed indefinitely as authorities investigate a fatal meningitis outbreak in the county. The incident has left Keeleigh hospitalised and deeply traumatised, with her mother stating it has "absolutely frightened the life out of her." Khali Goodwin asserted that her daughter, who resides in a houseshare in Canterbury, likely contracted meningitis B by sharing a vape at the nightclub.
Urgent Health Advisory Issued
Health officials have advised anyone who attended Club Chemistry on three consecutive nights at the beginning of the month to seek immediate medical treatment. The club's owner reported that over 2,000 people were present on March 5, 6, and 7. Khali, a mother of six, emphasised the potential risks, noting, "She did say that one of her friends also has sort of the same symptoms, obviously not as bad, but they’ve been sharing a vape. I think sharing vapes is a major way of it being passed."
Medical Perspectives on Transmission
While health organisations do not officially list vaping as a transmission route for meningitis, they acknowledge that the infection spreads via saliva and droplets. This means it can be transmitted through shared items such as utensils, cups, and even toothbrushes, as well as through sneezing, coughing, and kissing. Professor Andrew Preston, an expert in microbial pathogenicity at the University of Bath, speculated, "If you share a contaminated vape, it’s going to go into the back of throat, but to cause the disease, it then has to cross from within the nasal pharynx over that quite strong barrier. So I wonder if the vaping itself has caused weakening of the barrier, and the bugs are then able to move across when normally they can’t. That’s pure speculation."
Critical Intervention Saves Life
Khali Goodwin, from Herne Bay, Kent, recounted how her daughter's life was saved by a quick-thinking flatmate who found her unresponsive at home and called an ambulance. She expressed, "Luckily she lives in shared accommodation. The girl who found her rang an ambulance, which got there really quick. If it wasn’t for that girl, she wouldn’t be here. She was really bad." Keeleigh, who works at a McDonald's in Canterbury, is expected to remain in hospital for at least another week to recover.
Vaccine Limitations and Public Response
Keeleigh was diagnosed with meningitis B, a bacterial strain not covered by the standard vaccine administered to teenagers in Year 9. Her mother expressed shock, saying, "I never, in a million trillion years, ever thought it would be this. Never. She had a lumbar puncture and CT scans and stuff… and when it came back I said, ‘How? How has she got that, she’s protected?’ But it didn’t come out until 2015, this vaccine." The emotional toll is significant, with Keeleigh reportedly stating she cannot envision going out again due to the fear instilled by the experience.
Club Owner's Reaction
Louise Jones-Roberts, owner of Club Chemistry, expressed devastation over the situation, stating, "I'm devastated for the families affected. It's so incredibly sad. I just really hope people know the symptoms and no more lives are lost." The closure of the club and the ongoing investigation highlight the seriousness of the outbreak, with students at the University of Kent seen queuing for antibiotics as a precautionary measure.
This incident underscores the potential dangers of sharing personal items like vapes, especially in social settings, and serves as a critical reminder for public awareness regarding meningitis symptoms and prevention strategies.
