South Australia Meningococcal Death: 22nd Case This Year
A young adult has died from invasive meningococcal disease in South Australia, SA Health confirmed on Wednesday. The death is the state's 22nd case of
A young adult has died from invasive meningococcal disease in South Australia, SA Health confirmed on Wednesday. The death is the state's 22nd case of the disease this year.
The case was first announced on Saturday, October 31, by the state's health minister and chief public health officer. SA Health said data confidentiality rules meant it could not release any details about the person who died.
No further cases have been reported to SA Health since then.
Close contacts treated
Chief Public Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier had previously said close contacts of the infected person were given preventative antibiotics.
Meningococcal disease can become fatal or cause disability if it goes untreated once symptoms appear, according to the health information released with the confirmation.
Who is most at risk
Adolescents and very young children are among the groups most susceptible to the disease. Adults are not immune, however. A 36-year-old South Australian man died from it in 2023.
Who can get the free vaccine
Spurrier and Health Minister Blair Boyer have urged parents to vaccinate eligible children. South Australia's free vaccination program covers children younger than 12 months and students in Year 10.
The 22 cases recorded so far this year include this death.
