Overview

• The public advisory, posted on X, urges vaccination uptake with teenagers, young adults, babies and young children identified as most at risk.
• Symptoms can develop suddenly, including fever, vomiting, headache, a non‑fading rash under a glass, stiff neck, light sensitivity, drowsiness and seizures, with instructions to call 999 or go to A&E without delay.
• Protection is offered through routine jabs including MenB, 6‑in‑1, pneumococcal, Hib/MenC, MMR and MenACWY for teenagers and first‑year university students.
• Meningitis is caused by bacterial or viral infections and can spread through close contact such as sneezing, coughing and kissing.
• Patients are usually tested in hospital to confirm the cause, bacterial cases typically need at least a week of inpatient treatment, and prompt care leads to full recovery for most though some suffer long‑term problems.