Media centre
If you are a reporter and would like to speak to an expert about Meningitis UK's work or meningitis in general, or would like to interview a family who have experienced the devastation of the disease, please contact our media manager Philippa Walker on 0117 302 6195 or email philippawalker@meningitisuk.org
Or, if you are organising an event to raise money for Meningitis UK and would like help publicising it through the press, please see our have you got a story to tell? page.
If you have an urgent out of hours enquiry, please call Philippa on 07792 145060.
Useful resources
Latest news section of the website, featuring all our press releases and links to where articles about Meningitis UK has appeared in the media.
Personal stories of Meningitis UK supporters who have experienced the devastation of meningitis.
Notes to the editor, detailing statistics about the disease and the work of Meningitis UK.
Meningitis surveillance and disease trends.
Frequenty asked questions about meningitis.
Useful facts
- Around 3,000 people in the UK are affected by all types of bacterial meningitis and around 300 people die each year.
- Meningitis can kill in under 4 hours, which is why it's vital to know the signs.
- There are 8 main symptoms to look out for: fever, vomiting, headache, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights, drowsiness, difficulty in supporting own weight and a rash that does not fade when pressure is applied.
- Over 500,000 people in the UK today have had viral or bacterial meningitis.
- 1 in 10 victims will die.
- 1 in 7 of those who survive will be left with a permanent disability such as loss of limbs, blindness, deafness or brain damage.
- Children and babies under 5-years-old are most at risk because they don't replace the natural immunity they get from their mothers until school age.
- Those aged 14 to 24 are second most at risk, particularly students who are believed to be more susceptible due to living in close proximity to others.
- In the past 20 years vaccines have been developed to protect against Hib, Meningitis C and Pneumococcal Meningitis.
- There is no vaccine for Meningitis B, which accounts for 90 per cent of all meningococcal cases in the UK.
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