The Meningitis Now charity is calling on students to take action to protect themselves from deadly meningitis this winter.

It is backing a Public Health England campaign to encourage students who haven’t done so already to get the Men ACWY vaccine while they’re at home over the festive period.

Cases of the disease spike during the winter months and students are particularly susceptible.

Teenagers are the second most at risk group of contracting meningitis after babies and toddlers.

Meningitis Now chief executive Sue Davie said: “Up to a quarter of students carry the bacteria that can cause meningitis compared to one-in-10 of the general population.

“Over 12 per cent of all cases occur in the 14 to 24 age group, with first year students being at particular risk.

“Their immune systems can be weakened because of living in close confines and coming into close contact, the pressures of studying, lack of sleep, poor diet, partying, cold weather and flu.”

All teenagers aged 17 and 18 are eligible to receive the ACWY vaccine for free since August this year.

Older first-time university entrants aged 19-25 can also claim the free vaccination, introduced to combat the rise in Men W cases in adolescents.

Sue added: “It’s vital that students are not complacent about the threat of meningitis.

“We urge them to take up the vaccine, but, because there are not vaccines for all strains, they should also learn the signs and symptoms of the disease, and look out for themselves and their friends.”

Symptoms can include sickness, fever, cold hands and feet, muscle pain, headaches, confusion, irritability and a dislike of bright lights.

Advice from Meningitis Now is not to wait for a rash, which can be a late sign – and which may not appear at all.

Students should seek urgent medical help if they suspect the disease.

For further information visit the Fight for Now site at www.meningitisnow.org/