Two unrelated cases of Meningococcal appearing this week left a 10-year-old girl and a 62-year-old woman hospitalised in Adelaide this week.
More than a dozen other people were exposed in the latest cluster of the bacterial disease to strike Metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia Health said.
The 10-year-old girl has recovered and was discharged, while the woman was able to leave the ICU ward but remains in hospital.
Both patients were from metropolitan Adelaide.
A further 14 people have been given “clearance antibiotics” to prevent further transmission.
Meningococcal disease is a contagious disease. It is caused by a type of bacteria called neisseria meningitidis (also known as meningococcal bacteria).
There are multiple strains of the bacteria.
The two patients detected in Adelaide this week were both of “serotype B and serogroup Y respectively”.
These were the first two cases of Meningococcal Disease detected in the state this year, compared to 21 last in total last year.
One person died from Meningococcal in South Australia in 2023.
New South Wales and Victoria have not yet reported cases of Meningococcal disease.
Queensland reported that since 19 December 2023, three cases had been detected, however it was not clear whether those infections were from 2024.
“Symptoms of meningococcal disease can include headache, fever, vomiting, neck stiffness, and discomfort when looking at lights”, SA Health said.
“A skin rash may occur, with tiny red or purple spots that soon spread and enlarge to look like fresh bruises.”
“At later stages of the illness, people may develop confusion and shock. The disease can progress very rapidly and medical care should be urgently sought”
