Meningitis warning to fresher students

THOUSANDS of students who will descend on Edinburgh in the coming weeks have been warned about the risks of meningitis.

A leading charity said those moving into halls or student flats for the first time were significantly more at risk from the potentially fatal condition.

The Meningitis Research Foundation said one in ten students had not heard of the infection, while around half were unsure if they had been vaccinated against it.

Chris Head, the charity’s chief executive, said: “Students and young adults are the second most ‘at-risk’ group in the UK after children under five.

“Students are more vulnerable when they come together in new environments, such as universities. Traditionally cases begin to rise among this group in the autumn and winter.”