Meningitis still a threat to students
This week, Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) launched its new student awareness posters to highlight the increased risk of meningitis among students, particularly during the winter months.
The hard-hitting new posters have been developed in consultation with students to effectively communicate the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia to students and young adults across the country.
Chris Head, MRF Chief Executive, commented, “Students and young adults are the second most ‘at-risk’ group in the UK after children under five. Students are more vulnerable to the diseases when they come together in new environments, such as universities. Traditionally cases begin to rise amongst 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 and getting the symptoms known by our students. It’s 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.
The posters are available for free and can be ordered online at www.meningitis.org by calling MRF’s Freefone 24 hour helpline – 080 8800 3344. Students can also get life-saving symptoms information directly to their phones by simply texting MRF to 82088. (This text will be a standard rate text. MRF will not charge you for the video but data charges from your operator will apply.)