UK health leaders issue urgent warning over deadly ‘student virus’
British health authorities are urging university students to get vaccinated to protect against deadly meningitis.
Newcomers are at high risk of contracting this life-threatening infection because they often come into contact with many new people.
In a statement from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), experts warn that every year students are becoming “seriously ill and some sadly die” from this preventable disease.
In England, all pupils in Years 9 or 10 are offered the meningitis vaccine, called MenACWY. The vaccine protects them against four different types of meningococcal bacteria that can cause meningitis and septicaemia.
According to experts, the number of meningitis cases usually increases around September, in line with the start of the new academic year.
Sepsis is a life-threatening infection of the blood, while meningitis means that pathogens have invaded the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord
The number of cases more than doubled in early 2020 and late 2021, from 80 to 205. However, experts say the exceptionally low numbers in 2020 are due to the pandemic.
Experts are urging young people to make sure they have their free NHS vaccinations against meningitis, measles and HPV for children and adolescents, ahead of the start of the new school year.
“We typically see an increase in the number of meningococcal meningitis cases after the university term starts in September,” said Dr Shamez Ladhani, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA.
‘New and returning students from across the country and overseas coming together and interacting with each other makes it easy for infections to spread. Some students are becoming seriously ill and in some cases, unfortunately, people are even dying.’
‘I urge young people starting or returning to university to check that their MenACWY, HPV and MMR vaccinations are up to date and to contact their GP if they are unsure about what to do.’
