Students and other young people are being urged to get vaccinated against an aggressive strain of meningitis that killed 24 people in the last year for which there are figures. Public Health England (PHE) said cases of meningitis W, which can cause life-changing disabilities and kills one in 10 who contract it, were on the rise. As other strains have become less of a problem, meningitis W now accounts for a quarter of all meningitis infections. All meningococcal bacteria can cause meningitis and septicaemia, but meningitis W can also cause other illnesses such as pneumonia and joint infections. By getting this free meningitis vaccine from your GP you’re not only protecting yourself from a potentially deadly disease, but also protecting others by stopping the spread.

Source: The Guardian August 16, 2016 23:01 UTC