TEENAGERS are being targeted by a leading charity in a bid to raise awareness of meningitis.

The National Meningitis Trust is trying to make young people more aware of the bug which many mistakenly believe is a childhood disease.

Market research has revealed that general awareness of meningitis is lower among young people in the North than among their counterparts in the South.

Statistics just out show that cases among young people are on the increase. In response, the National Meningitis Trust has launched a Youth Awareness Campaign to alert young people to the risk. Dave Edwards, the trust's youth campaign officer, is visiting key areas across the country. He will be in the Manchester Conference Centre on June 23-24 as part of a national youth conference.

"There has been a trend over the past couple of years where more young people have been contracting meningitis, some of whom have lost their lives," said Dave. "Many young people are at an increased risk when away from home."

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