A Father's Unheeded Warning After Tragic Loss
Anthony Mills, a 50-year-old father devastated by the loss of his 18-year-old son to meningitis, says he attempted to warn universities about the dangers of the disease but was ignored. His son Aaron, a sport and science student at Liverpool John Moores University, died from the rare meningitis B strain on January 3, 2026, after initially being thought to have fresher's flu.
Outbreak in Canterbury Sparks Father's Alarm
Anthony's concern intensified when he learned about a University of Kent student who died amid a meningitis outbreak in Canterbury. This week, another pupil in the town has been confirmed dead, with 11 others seriously ill and receiving treatment. Anthony contacted the University of Kent two weeks ago to warn them about meningitis cases but claims his message was disregarded.
'Somebody messaged my wife to say there had been two deaths in Canterbury – and I just thought 'well, I emailed them a couple of weeks ago,'' Anthony said, expressing his frustration. 'I know exactly how the affected families feel. Meningitis turns your world upside down.'
Aaron's Story: From Fresher's Flu to Tragedy
Aaron returned home from university with cold symptoms and headaches that appeared to be typical fresher's flu. On the night of December 29, 2025, he watched a film with his father Anthony, mother Deniz (46), and 16-year-old sister Casey. The next morning, he suffered a seizure after waking with a headache and taking paracetamol.
Anthony found his son unresponsive half an hour later. Aaron was rushed to Worcester Royal Hospital and then transferred to University Hospital Coventry, where neurosurgeons attempted to remove fluid from his brain. Despite their efforts, he succumbed to meningitis B, which the family later learned he had contracted during his first university term.
'Aaron had spent a couple of months at university. You could see he was turning into a beautiful man with all his dreams ahead of him, and that was just ripped away from us,' Anthony recalled emotionally.
The Vaccine Gap and Awareness Campaign
Meningitis B is not covered by the MenACWY vaccine offered to teenagers through the NHS. The Bexsero jab, which protects against this rare strain, has been available to babies and those with specific health conditions since 2015. However, most people must pay between £180 and £280 for the recommended two doses, and many remain unaware of the differences between available vaccines.
Young people are particularly vulnerable to meningitis, with students living in close quarters facing even greater risks. Anthony has contacted all 650 Members of Parliament to boost awareness and advocates for a government rollout of the Bexsero vaccine for adolescents.
'Ideally, I'd like a government rollout for the Bexsero vaccine for adolescents. They need to make it more accessible – it's quite expensive at the moment. It's frustrating,' he emphasized.
A Plea to Universities and Ongoing Grief
In his message to universities and student unions across the UK, Anthony requested that information from the Meningitis Now charity be shared with students. He believes that with proper awareness, his son might still be alive.
'If we'd had some simple information when we sent Aaron's UCAS application, he'd still be here,' Anthony stated, highlighting the critical need for early education about meningitis risks.
Reflecting on his loss, he added: 'You still wake up, and you can't believe that you haven't got a son anymore. It's crushing at times. You can't breathe. If something positive comes out of this, I'll be a little more at peace.'
Anthony's campaign underscores the urgent need for improved meningitis awareness and vaccine accessibility in educational institutions to prevent further tragedies among young students.
