The Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand is urging all first-year university students – and their parents and whānau – to ensure they are vaccinated against meningococcal disease, following confirmation of a case within the student community at the University of Otago.

The Foundation’s Chair Gerard Rushton says the case is a stark reminder that meningococcal disease remains a very real risk for young people, particularly during the first weeks of university when thousands of students are mixing closely and socialising.

“The first few weeks of university are a perfect environment for meningococcal bacteria to spread,” Rushton says.

“Students are attending orientation events, concerts, parties and large lectures, often meeting hundreds of people in a short period of time. Those kinds of close-contact environments significantly increase the risk of transmission.”

Rushton says the Foundation is concerned that the current focus on vaccinating only those students living in halls of residence for the first time risks creating a false sense of security for other first-year students.

“Meningococcal disease doesn’t care whether you live in a hall, a flat or at home with your family. If you’re a student mixing socially with other students, the risk is still there,” he says.

“We strongly believe that all first-year university students should be vaccinated, not just those in their first year of a close-living situation, who are the only ones currently eligible for free vaccines.”

Meningococcal bacteria live in the nose and throat and can be spread through coughing, sneezing or contact with saliva. While many people carry the bacteria without becoming ill, the disease can develop suddenly and become life-threatening within hours, it can feel like a very bad flu (or hangover) so seek medical advice quickly.

Rushton says universities have an important role to play in protecting their students.

“We’re calling on all tertiary institutions in New Zealand to take heed of this. Universities, polytechnics and the like have a duty of care to the young people who come into their communities each year,” he says.

“That means making sure students and their families understand the risks and encouraging vaccination, rather than downplaying the possibility of infection.”

The Foundation is also urging parents and whānau of first-year students to check whether their children are protected.

“Vaccination is the single most effective way to prevent meningococcal disease,” Rushton says.

“This case should serve as a reminder to families across New Zealand that protection matters, particularly during those first weeks of university when students are mixing with so many new people.”

Anyone experiencing symptoms should seek medical help immediately.

The symptoms of meningococcal meningitis in adults and children can include: 

• A stiff, sore neck.
• A sensitivity to light, or a dislike of bright lights (an early warning sign of meningitis). 
• A severe headache.
• If the child or adult is difficult to wake, or in a drowsy and confused state.
• A fever, sometimes accompanied by cold hands and feet.
• Aching sore joints.
• Vomiting – a common symptom of meningitis in both children and adults. 
• Convulsive fits or seizures is characteristic of meningitis.