Highlands residents should be on high alert due to the recent outbreak of meningococcal, according to meningitis forum convenor Karen McNamara.

In an information evening on Monday held at the Mittagong RSL, concerned residents learned about and discussed the disease with leading medical experts.

The meningitis strains covered on the evening included meningococcal and pneumoccal - primary causes of meningitis.

Mrs McNamara said she organised the evening because she realised there were many people in this area who shared her concerns.

"The reason why this disease strikes fear in people is because it moves so quickly," Mrs McNamara said.

"The evening went really well and was most informative - the quality of the speakers was amazing.

"We had Professor Rosemary Munro from Liverpool Hospital, Chris Maidment from the Public Health Unit and local doctor Andrew Berry talking."

Mrs McNamara continued by saying the majority of people in attendance were mostly worried about their families.

"Most of the people here were mostly concerned about whether to vaccinate their child or not," she said.

"Although the experts couldn't answer that question, what they did was to provide enough information to parents so they could make that decision on their own."

Meningitis is a disease caused by either meningococcal or pneumoccal, both diseases in their own right.

These diseases are most common in children and young adults and should be treated seriously as they could lead to loss of limbs, brain damage or death.

Symptoms include rash, fever, vomiting, headache, fits and rapid breathing, joint and or muscle pain, drowsiness and irritability.

Meningitis can develop very quickly so treatment should be administered as soon as possible, however, experts say prevention is better than cure.

The risk of these diseases is always present so vaccination is one of the best means of protection, which can be obtained at your local GP.

For more information on these diseases, people can call The Meningitis Centre on freecall 1800 250 223.