Meningitis Alert
Following a recent student death from Meningitis, NUS has been working with the Meningitis Trust as part of their student awareness campaign, to ensure students are well informed about the dangers of Meningitis.
The 15-20 age group accounts for 13 per cent of all cases of all types of meningitis, the potentially fatal inflammation of the membrane around the brain. An NUS survey showed that between 5 and 7 per cent of students wouldn’t see a doctor if they had headache, fever and sickness - the early symptoms of meningitis. Most universities offer freshers immunisation against meningitis C; there is currently none against meningitis B, the other severe form. Meningitis outbreaks are most common when students begin university - the longer they are exposed to virus strains, the more likely they are to build up resistance.
The meningitis trust produces resources that are available free to Students Unions from the Meningitis Trust. To order copies of these materials you can contact the Meningitis Trust on 01453 768000, e-mail them at info@meningitis-trust.org or visit their website at www.meningitis-trust.org
We would encourage unions to work with their institutions as much as possible around Meningitis, ensuring that information is accessible to students and that all students have received their Meningitis C immunisation.
Veronica King
Vice-President Welfare
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