Freshers' flu nearly killed me: student recounts sepsis, double leg amputation, and meningitis warning signs

Ketia Moponda, 19, arrived at De Montfort University in Leicester eight days before a sudden, life-threatening illness upended her first year. What began as what she thought was freshers’ flu quickly deteriorated. About 27 hours after she went to bed with a cold, she was in a coma and receiving treatment for meningococcal septicemia and bacterial meningitis, a combination that forced doctors to amputate both of her legs and parts of her fingers after her condition worsened.

Moponda, from Wolverhampton, has said she has no memory of the 27 hours before a fellow student found her and called for help. She described a scene in which medical responders arrived as the situation appeared dire, and she was rushed to Leicester Royal Infirmary battling two life-threatening infections. The infection spectrum escalated quickly, and she spent months recovering before regaining consciousness and beginning rehabilitation.

The episodes culminated in a double leg amputation, followed by a five-month hospitalization at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Moponda has since become a vocal advocate for meningitis awareness, emphasizing early recognition of warning signs and the importance of vaccination. She has launched campaigns on social media to highlight the risks facing students, particularly young, Black women, ahead of Freshers’ Week, and she urges peers to register with a local GP upon starting university. “Don’t mistake everything for a common cold,” she said, underscoring the potential for rapid deterioration.

Medical experts separate meningococcal septicemia from bacterial meningitis, though both are serious. Meningococcal septicemia is blood poisoning caused by the same bacteria that can cause meningitis; when it enters the bloodstream, it can damage organs and trigger sepsis. In Moponda’s case, the infection necessitated amputations and a lengthy recovery. Bacterial meningitis, while less common than its viral counterpart, requires urgent hospital care because it can progress rapidly and cause brain or nerve damage if untreated. In severe instances, it can lead to life-threatening sepsis.

Vaccination is a critical defense, but the MenACWY vaccine does not protect against meningitis B, which is a major cause of serious illness in late teens and young adults. The meningitis B vaccine was added to the NHS schedule in 2015 for infants, leaving many first-year students unprotected against MenB. September remains a peak period for meningitis B cases among young people, and a significant portion of students miss the routine MenACWY vaccination. Estimates suggest about one in eight are not fully protected by MenACWY, and some students obtain vaccines privately at substantial cost.

Meningitis Now, a charity focused on awareness campaigns for students, has urged a three-pronged approach to reduce risk among young people. Dr Tom Nutt, the charity’s chief executive officer, said: “Firstly, all people at risk should get a vaccine. Secondly, we are asking the NHS to introduce a booster vaccine for students who may have had the MenB vaccine in infancy. And then, thirdly, we are asking for the MenB vaccination to be made available on the high street at a fair price.” Private vaccination for MenB can cost around £200 for a full two-dose course.

Public health officials note that meningitis can affect anyone but highlight that under-fives, people aged 15 to 24, and those over 45 are at higher risk. Early symptoms can be subtle and resemble a hangover or a mild illness, which makes timely medical evaluation essential. Common warning signs include a rash that does not fade with pressure, stiff neck, fever with cold hands and feet, vomiting, drowsiness, severe headache, and sensitivity to bright light. Symptoms can appear in any order, and not everyone will present with the full set.

To bolster protection, health researchers emphasize the need for broad vaccination coverage and increased awareness among students starting university. Caroline Hughes, a support services manager at Meningitis Research Foundation, stressed that vaccination against MenACWY does not cover MenB, which remains a leading cause of serious meningitis in young people. She urged parents to check vaccination records before college and for students to seek urgent medical care if they suspect meningitis in themselves or a peer.

Meningitis Now also advocates boosting access to MenB vaccination and encouraging routine vaccination checks for students entering higher education. The organization argues that broad access, combined with heightened awareness of early symptoms, can prevent dire outcomes similar to Moponda’s experience.

In Moponda’s case, the ordeal began with what many students experience as a mild illness during Freshers’ Week. Her story serves as a cautionary tale about meningitis and sepsis, which can evolve quickly despite initial mild symptoms. She continues to speak publicly about her experience and aims to increase visibility of young, Black female amputees, hoping to empower others to seek timely medical care and vaccination when signs arise.

Ultimately, medical experts caution that meningitis and sepsis are medical emergencies. Prompt hospital treatment, rapid diagnosis, and appropriate antibiotic therapy can reduce fatalities and long-term complications. For students heading to university this month, the key takeaway remains: seek urgent care for symptoms that worsen or do not improve, register with a GP early, and verify vaccination status with a clinician.