A MASSIVE publicity campaign has been launched by Preston's university in a bid to stave off the threat of Meningitis spreading through the student population.

The University of Central Lancashire wants to make sure all of its students are vaccinated against the killer disease, which regularly claims the lives of teenagers throughout the country.

Along with the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), the university is targeting all new students, urging them to take the polysaccharide meningitis C vaccine before starting life away from home.

And all students will be warned of the symptoms of the brain disease when they arrive on campus, with posters being placed across the University's sprawling complex, urging all users to look out for their friends if they fall ill.

A spokesman for the University said: "All new students are being advised by UCAS to go to their GPs and get vaccinated before they leave home to come to the university.

"However, the UCLa recognises that inevitably some will not be vaccinated when they arrive and we will vaccinate any students who ask at the health centre.

"There is a big publicity campaign on campus, throughout the halls of residence and through the Students' Union to make students aware of the symptoms and ask them to be on their guard."

Dr Steven Gee, consultant in communicable disease control at North West Lancashire Health Authority, said: "Students are at risk because they will encounter bugs which perhaps weren't around in their part of the country."

Symptoms include pain in the back of joints, headache, feeling feverish, dislike to light and vomiting.

James Asser, National Union of Students welfare vice-president, said: "Students still need to be vigilant - know the symptoms of meningitis and look out for other students who may have contracted the disease."

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