Two more cases of meningococcal B detected in SA, day after baby tested positive

Three people have now tested positive for invasive cases of meningococcal B in two days, including an 11-month-old baby.

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SA Health has issued a health alert after two more people tested positive for meningococcal B – only a day after a baby in rural South Australia was hospitalised.

A 10-year-old girl, also from rural SA, and a 31-year-old woman from metro Adelaide are also in a stable condition in hospital.

Several close contacts have been identified with eight people being told to receive clearance antibiotics.

There have been a total of five cases on meningococcal B in South Australia this year.

It comes a day after SA Health announced an 11-month-old child has an invasive case and has been taken to hospital where they remain in a stable condition.

SA Health has confirmed it has contacted all people identified to have had contact with the child – four of whom have been directed to take clearance antibiotics.

There have now been a total of five cases of invasive meningococcal B in the state since the beginning of the year, in comparison with two at the same time last year.

Fourteen cases of the disease were identified in South Australia last year – 12 of which were serogroup B.

SA Health have urge people to get vaccinated against meningococcal.

Symptoms of the disease include fever, neck stiffness, vomiting, headache and discomfort when looking at lights.

A rash may also appear on the skin with purple or red spots that then spread to look like bruises.

People may also experience confusion and shock and children may be difficult to wake, refuse to eat and fretful.

SA Health urges people to protect themselves by getting appropriate vaccines covered under national and state funded programs.

However, vaccinated people are still urged to look out for symptoms.

Originally published as Two more cases of meningococcal B detected in SA, day after baby tested positive