A sixth form pupil who has died from meningitis in light of the outbreak ripping through Kent has been described as “incredibly kind, thoughtful and intelligent” by her headteacher. Amelia McIlroy, headteacher at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, named on Monday the Year 13 pupil as Juliette in a moving tribute to the girl. She did not provide her surname.

The headteacher confirmed Juliette’s death “with great sadness”, saying she was “a much loved and treasured member of our school community”. Ms McIlroy added: “Juliette was a student at our school for seven years. She was incredibly kind, thoughtful and intelligent, and she loved our school.

“Juliette embraced everything that school had to offer with great enthusiasm and joy, and her humour and her 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.

“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 completely devastated. Our love and our thoughts are with her family and friends at this terribly sad time.”

A student at the University of Kent also died following the outbreak, which came to light on Sunday evening.

A University of Kent spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened to confirm that one student from the University of Kent has died following a case of invasive meningitis. Our thoughts are with the student’s family, friends and the wider university community at this extremely difficult time.

“The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. We are working closely with public health teams and are in touch with staff and students to ensure they get the advice and support they need.”

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it had been notified of 13 cases from Friday to Sunday in the Canterbury area and the specific strain had not yet been identified.

On Monday morning, students at Kent University could be seen lining up along the Senate building on campus to receive antibiotics.

Trish Mannes, UKHSA regional deputy director for the South East, said: “We understand that many people at the university and in the wider community will be affected by this sad news and we would like to offer our condolences to the friends and family involved.

“Students and staff will understandably be feeling worried about the risk of further cases; however, we would like to reassure them that close contacts of cases have been given antibiotics as a precautionary measure.

“Advice and support is being offered to the wider student community, and to local hospitals and NHS 111, and we’re monitoring the situation closely. Meningococcal disease can progress rapidly, so it’s essential that students and staff are alert to the signs and symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, which can include a fever, headache, rapid breathing, drowsiness, shivering, vomiting and cold hands and feet.

“Septicaemia can also cause a characteristic rash that does not fade when pressed against a glass. Students are particularly at risk of missing the early warning signs of meningitis because they can be easily confused with other illnesses such as a bad cold, flu or even a hangover.

“That’s why it’s vital that, if a friend goes to bed unwell, you check on them regularly and don’t hesitate to seek medical help by contacting their GP or calling NHS 111 if they have these symptoms or you’re concerned about them. This could save their life.”