A second student has been struck down with meningitis.

The latest victim in Bristol, believed to be a female student, was admitted to hospital on Thursday after falling seriously ill.

Doctors confirmed she was suffering with meningococcal meningitis, the same type of the disease which killed a fellow University of Bristol student last week.

A first year male student died on November 14. The condition of the second victim is said to be improving.

Most youngster people are vaccinated against the C strain of meningitis but as yet, there is no such vaccine for the more common B strain, also known as meningococcal meningitis.

However, if it is caught soon enough it can be treated. Antibiotics have already been given to a number of people who came into close contact with the infected students.

Included in this group are students at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol, though no UWE students have come down with meningitis this year.

A spokesman for the Health Protection Agency said it was not linking the two cases of meningitis and emphasised the student population was more at risk of contracting the illness than others because of the number of young people living in close proximity. It also said meningitis was much more common at this time of year.

University bosses have teamed up with the charity Meningitis UK to warn students and staff to be on the lookout for the symptoms of the disease and not to dismiss them as a hangover or flu.

Emails have been sent to all members of the University and symptom cards and leaflets will be made available to all 15,000 students. Students are urged to seek medical help as soon as they become concerned.

Telltale signs include fever, headache, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights, drowsiness and a rash that does not fade when pressure is applied.

Medical experts say people should not wait for a rash to develop, as this is a sign of the more dangerous meningococcal septicaemia and may not appear with meningitis.

Meningitis UK's chief executive Steve Dayman, whose son died from the disease, said: "It is estimated 10 per cent of the population carry the organism which causes meningitis, but this increases to 25 per cent for students so they need to be extra vigilant to the symptoms.

"Because meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia can kill in hours, minutes count.

"Spotting the symptoms early and seeking medical help immediately can save valuable time. We also urge students to look out for each other."

The Health Protection Agency said it was working to identify any people who may have been at increased risk of infection as a result of being household contacts of the second student. This group of people would be provided with preventative medication.