THE public are being warned to continue to look for symptoms of meningitis, despite reports that the vaccination for meningitis C has caused a 90 per cent reduction in young people getting the brain disease.

Steve Dayman, operations officer of the Spencer Dayman Meningitis Laboratories, said he was concerned that the public are under the misconception that once their children have the meningitis C vaccine, they are protected against all forms of bacterial meningitis.

He says they should be aware that there is no vaccination against the most common form of bacterial meningitis, meningococcal group B.

He said: "In my opinion it is of the upmost importance for families and health professionals to always consider meningitis or meningococcal septicaemia if someone becomes ill, especially if the illness has developed rapidly."

Angela Dudley, a spokesman for the National Meningitis Trust, said: "It is important to be vigilant to the signs and symptoms which may appear flu-like but can be life-threatening."

They have also warned people against the dangers of meningococcal septicaemia, which is blood poisoning caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream and then multiplying uncontrollably. This is spread between people in close contact by coughing and kissing.

Call the NMT helpline on 0845 6000 800.