Two new cases of meningococcal disease prompt a medical alert

HEALTH officials are warning Central Coast residents to be aware of meningococcal symptoms after confirmation of two fresh cases of the disease in the region.

Sarah Joyce’s father Gary visits her at hospital last year.

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HEALTH officials are warning Central Coast residents to be aware of meningococcal symptoms after confirmation of two fresh cases of the disease in the region.

A 21-year-old male is responding well to treatment and is in a stable condition at Gosford Hospital, while a 52-year-old-female was transferred to Sydney for further treatment.

The Central Coast’s two new cases come on the back of four cases last year and another two in 2015.

Sarah Joyce, 30, contracted the disease and was rushed to Gosford Hospital in August last year with extreme flu symptoms, her condition having deteriorated rapidly.

Before going back on life support, ICU nurses helped Sarah take some tentative first steps.

The Wamberal resident’s body shut down in just 12 hours and doctors did not expect her to survive.

After five days of diagnosis and an agonising eight days on life support, Ms Joyce amazed everyone with her fierce determination when she finally woke.

Ms Joyce said the disease had completely changed her life.

“I have multi-organ failure, my kidneys don’t function, I’m awaiting a kidney transplant, I’m at the hospital three days a week having dialysis, I’ve had multiple surgeries, I’ve had a spleen removed, fingers and toes amputated, so it’s been very life changing,” she told A Current Affair last week.

“I’m here for a reason — it didn’t take me then and it’s not going to take me now. I’m just going to keep going.”

Sarah Joyce taking her first steps after being struck down by meningococcal disease.

The deadly disease has many strains and continues to vex experts and the public alike.

Central Coast Local Health District public health director Dr Peter Lewis said all the symptoms associated with the disease weren’t always present in each case.

“Most cases occur among infants, young children, teenagers and young adults — although people of any age can be infected,” Dr Lewis said.

“Meningococcal disease can be very severe and people infected with it can become extremely unwell within hours of the first symptoms appearing.”

Dr Lewis said the disease was most prevalent in late winter and early spring but cases have presented all year round.

SYMPTOMS:

Adults: sudden fever, cold hands and feet, limb/joint pain, nausea and vomiting, headache, neck stiffness, dislike of bright lights and a pinprick rash changing to large red-purple blotches

Babies and young children: irritability, difficulty waking, rapid or laboured breathing, diarrhoea, high-pitched crying and refusing to eat

Details: 1300 066 055

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