KEIGHLEY-district students who will soon be heading off to university are being urged to learn the signs of meningitis.

Meningitis Now has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the condition.

The charity fears that a combination of new-found social freedoms, mixing in large groups and a move to campus-based accommodation will present an ideal opportunity for infectious diseases – including meningitis – to spread.

Dr Tom Nutt, for Meningitis Now, said: "Whilst many young people will have been vaccinated against MenACWY – which protects against four strains of meningococcal meningitis – at school, we estimate that up to half a million under-25s may have missed this important vaccination. And very few young people will have been vaccinated against MenB, which causes most cases of bacterial meningitis.

"Complaints such as a hangover and 'freshers flu' are often given as reasons for a person feeling unwell. But a headache and fever are also common signs of meningitis, which is why it is so important that young people should learn the signs and symptoms of the disease, look out for themselves and their mates and seek medical help straight away if they feel unwell."

For more details of symptoms, visit MeningitisNow.org.