Archive · 20 Sep 2025
Student Loses Limbs to Meningococcal Septicemia After Contracting 'Fresher's Flu'
Imagine a student went to university and got what they thought was just a bad cold, called "fresher's flu."
But this cold turned out to be something very serious called meningococcal septicemia, a dangerous blood infection.
The infection was caused by tiny germs, which is called bacteria.
This infection caused the student's body to attack itself.
Doctors had to remove the student's legs and fingers because the infection had caused serious damage.
The student is now recovering with new prosthetic limbs.
A 19-year-old student contracted meningococcal septicemia shortly after starting university.
The student was diagnosed with a severe blood infection caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacterium.
Symptoms included fever, rash, and organ failure.
Doctors had to amputate both legs and all fingers due to lack of blood flow.
The student is now undergoing rehabilitation and awaiting prosthetic limbs.
- Who
- Ketia Moponda, a 19-year-old university student.
- What
- Contracted meningococcal septicemia leading to amputation of limbs.
- When
- Contracted the infection shortly after starting university.
- Where
- De Montfort University in Leicester
- Why
- The infection was caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacterium.
- Patient
- Ketia Moponda
- Age
- 19 years old
- University
- De Montfort University in Leicester
- Condition
- Meningococcal Septicemia
- Cause
- Neisseria meningitidis bacteria
- Result
- Amputation of both legs and all fingers