The family and friends of a student found dead from meningitis in his university accommodation have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the condition and help raise funds to eradicate the "silent killer".

Saleem Akintoye, a 21-year-old politics and international relations student at the University of Aberdeen, was found dead in his bed at the Old Fire Station halls on King Street in October by his girlfriend Jodie Roger.

Yesterday she joined his sister Cindy Sitambuli at the start of a two-week campaign in Aberdeen to encourage support for Meningitis UK's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign.

"My family decided to support Meningitis UK because we feel the need to search for a vaccine is crucial," said Ms Sitambuli.

"Guidelines need to be revised so all students are informed when there has been an outbreak.

"We need to raise awareness about this silent killer."

The number of meningitis cases peak in February and free wallet-sized symptoms cards are being handed out across the UK.

Although successful vaccines exist to protect against some forms of meningitis, there is still no vaccine available to protect against all strains, including the most common in the UK - meningococcal group B. This causes both meningitis and septicaemia and accounts for almost 90% of all cases.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining which covers the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcal septicaemia occurs when poisons caused by the meningococcal bacteria enter the blood stream.

The condition can kill in less than four hours and it is a notoriously difficult disease to diagnose because symptoms can appear flu-like.

Every year more than 300 people die and hundreds more are left with permanent disabilities from all forms of meningitis. In 2007 there were 2098 cases provisionally recorded in the UK.