Club Chemistry closed until meningitis is 'under control' - owner

The owner of a nightclub linked to the centre of a deadly meningitis outbreak in Kent says it "will not open until this is under control" after two members of staff were hospitalised. Club Chemistry has been linked to the outbreak of meningitis in Canterbury which has now seen 27 cases either suspected or confirmed, including two people who have died. Louise Jones-Roberts, who owns the club, said there was "a lot of fear and anxiety" among people in the city. Three cheerleaders from the University of Kent are within the group of people in hospital, a member of the society has said. Jones-Roberts said: "As a mother, any time there's a rash you get the glass out - it's ingrained in our consciousness. "People are frightened. There's a lot of fear and anxiety. "We are not prepared to open until we know this is under control and people are safe." Jones-Roberts said the two staff members who had contracted the disease remained in hospital but were stable, and expected to be released in the coming days. Following Health Secretary Wes Streeting's announcement that vaccine eligibilty would be widened to include anyone who attended Club Chemistry from 5 March onwards, she added that she was