A meningitis alert has been issued at a university following the death of a undergraduate.
Two students at the University of Surrey fell ill with the disease, before John Igboanugo, a first-year physics student, died in Italy during a trip with the American football team.
Now 4,200 undergraduates on campus are being offered voluntary meningitis B vaccination jabs in a bid to halt the outbreak.
Italian authorities told the university that he died of a suspected bout of meningitis.
Two students treated in hospital were said to be “recovering well”.
Public Health England has said the wider population of the University town who visit the campus but do not live there are not at risk of the outbreak.
It also warned students, teachers and their families to be aware of the symptoms.
Staff released no further details about the new cases but said “background risk of meningococcal disease is higher in first-year students living in halls of residence”.
Professor Max Lu, the university’s vice-chancellor, said: “We are greatly saddened by the death of our student, and our hearts go out to his family and friends during what continues to be a very difficult time.
“The health and wellbeing of everyone on campus is of the utmost importance.”
