About 2,000 students have been urged to have vaccinations against meningitis after a 21-year-old man died from the disease in Co Donegal.
Mr Maurice McMenamin, a second-year student at Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT), Co Donegal, died after being struck by meningococcal meningitis on Saturday.
He was pronounced dead at Letterkenny General Hospital last night after failing to respond to treatment, said the North Western Health Board.
A medical team has travelled to Letterkenny Institute and is offering vaccinations to the 2,000 students.
Mr McMenamin's close friends and family were receiving treatment to ensure that they do not develop the illness, said a health board spokesman.
Doctors were strongly advising youngsters to have vaccinations against the deadly strains B and C of the disease that are available under a nationwide health strategy, he said.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology said in a statement that those who had had "casual contact" with Mr McMenamin were in no danger of contracting the disease.
It said: "Staff and students of Letterkenny Institute of Technology express sincere condolences to the family of Maurice McMenamin on his untimely death.
"Immediately following notification of Maurice's illness health board staff and the medical service of LYIT began tracing all persons who were in direct contact with Maurice.
"Appropriate treatment has been administered to those direct contacts. As part of an ongoing programme, a vaccination session for students aged up to 23 has been planned for today. This will continue for as long as necessary".
PA