South coast teen dies from meningococcal after Spilt Milk Festival

A teenager has died from meningococcal following the Spilt Milk festival in Canberra.

A south coast teenager has died from Meningococcal following the Spilt Milk festival in Canberra. Picture: Supplied

ACT Health has confirmed a south coast teenager has died in Canberra Hospital after contracting Meningococcal at the Spilt Milk Festival in Canberra last month.

In a statement, an ACT Health spokesman said the directorate was working closely with NSW Health following the death of the 18-year-old woman.

“While ACT Health is not aware of any other cases connected to Spilt Milk, it is important for people who attended the festival to be alert to the symptoms of meningococcal disease and seek medical review if they occur,” the spokesman said.

A statement from NSW Health said 29 cases of Meningococcal disease were reported in NSW in 2022.

“The majority of cases have been due to meningococcal B strain of the infection,” the spokesman said.

They said the 18-year-old was the third NSW resident to die from the illness this year.

ACT Chief Health officer Dr Kerryn Coleman issued a warning to festival goers on Sunday about meningococcal disease. Picture: Supplied

In a Facebook post on Monday evening, Meningitis Centre Australia announced the death of the south coast woman.

“An 18-year-old female from the south coast of NSW who attended the Spilt Milk Festival has sadly passed away from meningococcal,” the statement said.

“Our thoughts are very much with the family and friends at this time.”

On Sunday, ACT Health issued a warning to festival attendees to check for symptoms after the woman was hospitalised with the illness.

An ACT Health Spokesman said the directorate was working closely with NSW Health and “close contacts” were being identified and contacted directly.

ACT chief health officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said while meningococcal was uncommon, it could be severe and lead to lifelong complications or death.

“We are urging people who attended the Spilt Milk festival … in Canberra on the weekend to be aware of the symptoms of meningococcal disease,” she said.

“One of the more well-known symptoms is a rash but this may not be present at all, or may come very late in the illness.

The health warning said the symptoms associated with the disease were “non-specific” and may not present at once, but they included a sudden onset of fever, headache, neck stiffness, joint pain, a rash of red-purple spots or bruises and a potential dislike of bright lights.

Young children with meningococcal may experience irritability, difficulty waking, high-pitched crying and may refuse to eat.

Spilt Milk festival organisers have been contacted for comment.