Two-year-old toddler from rural SA dies after contracting invasive meningococcal

A toddler has died after contracting meningococcal. The tot is the state’s first victim of the invasive disease this year.

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A toddler from regional South Australia has died after contracting meningococcal, the state’s first victim of the invasive disease this year.

SA Health on Tuesday said a two-year-old from rural SA had contracted the disease, with the strain identified as serogroup B.

Fifteen people have been directed to receive clearance antibiotics after coming into contact with the child.

The rash produced by meningococcal disease.

There have been seven cases of meningococcal this year, compared with six at the same time last year. Of those, all have been identified as serogroup B.

Twelve cases of meningococcal were reported last year – six were type B and six type W – and three deaths were recorded.

Cases have fallen since the introduction of a meningococcal B vaccine program in 2018.

In 2017 there were 36 cases of all strains and five cases in 2020.