Meningitis still a threat to students: New student campaign to be launched at Bristol University

13 October 2009

Meningitis Research Foundation will launch its new awareness posters for students with Bristol University at 10:30am on Wednesday, 21 October at the Student Union Building, Queens Road. University of Bristol Student Union and students will be present for interviews and photos, as well as staff from Meningitis Research Foundation.

The hard-hitting new posters have been developed in consultation with students in Bristol to effectively communicate the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia to students and young adults across the country. Download them here.

Chris Head, MRF Chief Executive commented, “Students and young adults are the second most ‘at-risk’ group in the UK after children under 5, and are more vulnerable to the diseases when they come together in new environments, such as universities. Traditionally cases begin to rise among this group in the autumn and winter. Therefore, it is vital that students know what the symptoms of meningitis are so they can distinguish between them and more common flu-like illnesses.”

Ruth Jackson, Vice President of Welfare and Equality at Bristol University Students' Union said, "We are delighted to be involved in launching these posters at Bristol University and getting the symptoms known by our students. Its essential that campaigns like these reach the student population, who are often not aware of the dangers that such diseases pose to their health".

Every year in the UK there are around 3,300 cases of meningitis and septicaemia – the blood poisoning form of the disease. This means a death still occurs almost every day and a further two people are left with severe after effects, such as brain damage, hearing loss and amputations. The incidence of disease rises in the autumn and winter months and cases also rise after a flu pandemic.