U.K. statistics on cases and deaths.
Monday, August 17, 1998 Published at 12:10 GMT 13:10 UK
Health
Students get meningitis warning
Leaflets will be distributed by student welfare officers
University students are to be warned about the dangers of meningitis
when they return for the new academic year in October.
The Meningitis Research Foundation is sending leaflets to 800
universities, detailing how to detect signs of the disease.
Student welfare officers will distribute the leaflets.
There were about 70 recorded cases of meningitis last year on campuses
last year including 15 deaths.
The worst outbreak occurred at Southampton University where six
students picked up the infection, three of whom died.
Disease awareness
In the population as a whole, the incidence of meningitis is now at an
all-time high. After the under-fives, the 15-24 age group is most at risk.
"This is why the foundation is trying to promote awareness of the
disease", said Julia Warren from the Meningitis Research Foundation.
"In lieu of having an effective vaccine, our best defence is awareness of
the disease. Prompt diagnosis and early treatment really do lead to the
best chances of an early recovery."
"Young people tend to think they're indestructible, and aren't particularly
vigilant about illnesses.
'Flu-like' symptoms
"Also the symptoms are rather 'flu like, and they might just think they've
got a hangover. The chances are, they probably have!
"But we want them to tell someone if they feel particularly rough, so they
can be checked on."
Although university students are in a high-risk group, she stressed that
going to university did not increase their risk further.
"Students who go to university are no more at risk than if they were
studying in school, but we just want them to know the facts, and have a
vaccination if they feel they want to."
Vaccination offer
Only students at universities which have had higher than average cases in
the past will be offered vaccination.
"Unfortunately, this vaccine is not ideal," said Julia Warren. "It is only
effective against C-strain meningitis and about 60% of the cases are
B-strain, and there is no vaccine for that.
In 1997 there were 2,660 reported cases of meningitis in the UK with 243
deaths - an all-time high.
Note the data is for meningitis not meningococcal septicimia.
Note subsets of data 70 cases 15 deaths
6 cases 3 deaths
Too bad this is only for 1997. |
