Students will be among those targeted by the government for vaccination against meningitis C.

The chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, announced yesterday that the vaccine, which has already cut the number of cases in children and teenagers, was to be made available to all those under 25.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advised that the risk of infection was twice as high among 20 to 24-year-olds as in the rest of the adult population.

The last decade has witnessed a rise in meningitis in young people, many of whom have been students. Most of these have been first-years living in halls of residence. Some universities have had clusters of outbreaks that have led to deaths.

Maurice McMenamin, from County Donegal in Ireland died of the infection in November. Almost 2,000 students at Letterkenny Institute of Technology, where the 21-year-old studied business, were vaccinated following his death.

The bacteria can be spread by coughing, sneezing, kissing or sharing a glass, and, in its early stages, can be confused with 'flu or a bad hangover.

A spokesman for The Meningitis Trust said: "There is still a popular myth that meningitis only affects young babies and children but adults need to know that it can affect any age group."

The Department of Health said the vaccine has already cut the incidence of meningitis by 90% since its introduction in 1999.

However, the DoH added that the vaccine did not protect against all forms of meningitis and warned people to be aware of the symptoms.

Early signs of meningitis include sickness, fever, back or joint pain, a severe headache or a stiff neck.

People are advised to get urgent medical help if they cannot stand bright lights and develop a rash which looks like a bruise and does not fade under pressure.

The Meningitis Trust operates a 24-hour helpline staffed by nurses on 084 5600 0800.