Students urged to get meningitis vaccination as cases of potentially deadly strain soar

A Bristol mum is backing the advice to students to get vaccinated against meningitis before heading to university. Michelle Bresnahan's 16 year old son Ryan contracted the infection and died within hours in 2010.

Today students going to university this autumn are being urged to get a vaccine against meningitis as a deadly strain is on the rise.

Ryan was healthy and energetic. But one night during the Easter holidays he began to feel ill. A day later he was dead.

Michelle's charity - A Life for a Cure - has raised over £400,000 for meningitis research. But six years on from Ryan's death, experts are worried about a 'highly aggressive strain of Meninigtis W which is on the rise.

It's fatal in 1 in 10 cases. There is a free vaccine - called ACWY. GPs are writing to school leavers to encourage them to get vaccinated, whether they are going to university or not.

Bath Spa University wants to make sure its students have got the message. They've told ITV News that when they send out a welcome letter to new students they are advised to get vaccinated before arriving, but they also off the vaccinations at their Medical Centre. They've also told us they've got posters in every kitchen in student accommodation and follow up the campaign at Christmas.

Ryan Bresnahan's mother Michelle says having the vaccination is the only way to protect yourself: