16 March 2026
Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor of cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said:
“Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord, and it can be caused by a range of organisms, most commonly bacteria and viruses. Bacterial meningitis, including meningococcal disease, is the more serious form, but it remains uncommon, and with rapid treatment most people recover fully. The bacteria that cause meningococcal meningitis are often carried harmlessly in the nose and throat; around 10% of the general population carry them without ever becoming ill. In adolescents and young adults, carriage can be higher, with large UK studies showing rates between 7% and 18%.
"Transmission requires close, prolonged contact such as coughing, sneezing or kissing, and even among carriers only a very small proportion ever develop invasive disease. Symptoms can appear suddenly and may resemble flu at first, but severe headache, fever, neck stiffness, confusion, or a rash that doesn’t fade under pressure are important warning signs. With prompt medical care, outcomes are generally good and long‑term complications are far less common than they once were.
"Vaccination remains the best protection. The MenACWY and MenB vaccines used in the UK are safe, well‑tested, and available free to eligible UK and international students.”
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