According to a recent survey, most people over the age of 55 don’t consider themselves to be at risk from deadly meningitis, despite the risk increasing in older adults. Fiona Evans looks at a new national campaign to improve adults’ awareness of the disease’s signs and symptoms. Last Christmas should have been special for Michelle and Stuart Jackson – their first together as a married couple. Instead Michelle was left facing a future without her husband after meningitis claimed his life. Stuart, 56, fell ill in early December and appeared to be making progress before taking a turn for the worse. “My life has changed completely without my husband,” said Michelle. “We only got married in February 2017 although we had been together for ten years – married and widowed in the same year. “My whole future has been wiped out and I need to try and find a new one without him. This is devastating and very difficult to get my head around.” Michelle is supporting a new national awareness campaign, Adults Get It Too, from the charity Meningitis Now. Anyone of any age can get meningitis, with the risk increasing in older adults Dr Tom Nutt The campaign aims to inform adults of the risks they face and encourage them to learn the signs and symptoms of meningitis to help protect themselves and their loved ones. A recent survey revealed that 95 per cent of people aged over 55 do not consider themselves to be at risk from… [Read full story]
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