Anyone, anywhere can contract meningitis, but those most at risk are children under five, teenagers and young adults, and older people . Students are one of the key at-risk age groups for meningitis because of the lifestyle they lead and the close togetherness of student accommodation.
Close contact allows the bacteria to spread.
The number of cases of meningitis has risen in recent years and there have been student deaths caused by meningitis. The signs and symptoms of meningitis are printed on posters around the university which emphasise the point that prompt action can mean the difference between life and death. The speed of deterioration is so rapid that someone with meningitis can go from one extreme to another in matter of hours. It is the speed with which you seek medical assistance that can make the difference. If you keep an eye out for your friends, and aren't afraid to ask them how they are feeling, you may save their life.