Survivor explains why young adults need to recognise symptoms of meningitis

A survivor explains to Arlene Harris why teens and young adults risk getting meningitis — and not detecting it until too late

Gemma O’Connor feels lucky to be alive — because when she was just 16 years old she was given less than an hour to live after contracting meningococcal septicaemia.

Thankfully, she survived her ordeal but the Kerry woman knows only too well how quickly the disease can develop and potentially kill.