The Meningitis Research Foundaion estimates that each year there are nearly 2,500 cases of bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease in the UK. 

1 in 10 people who contract meningitis and septicaemia will die and 25% of survivors will be left with life-altering permanent after effects.

Who is the most at risk

Anyone of any age can contract meningitis and/or septicaemia but babies, young children and teenagers are most at risk.

There is a common misconception about meningitis and septicaemia; that they only affect young people. In fact, this is not the case. These diseases can affect anyone of any age and we still have no idea why it affects some people rather than others.

It is true that babies and young people are more at risk. This is for various reasons; babies might not have fully developed immune systems leaving them without a natural resistance and There are forms of meningitis that solely affect babies - group B strep meningitis can be transferred from mother to baby in protracted labours.

There are other reasons that children are more susceptible; pneumococcal meningitis can occur as a result of ear infections – something that babies and young children are more susceptible to.

The other group considered to be ‘at-risk’ are students in their first few weeks of University. The main reason is because this age group carry the bacteria more than the rest of the population ( up to 1 in 4 compared to approximately 1 in 10) – their behaviour (kissing, smoking, living in close proximity) puts them at higher risk of contracting the bacteria.