Deadly meningococcal warning on the northern beaches

A case of the potentially fatal meningococcal disease was confirmed on the northern beaches over the long weekend.

A spokesperson wouldn’t confirm where the patient was diagnosed, but said the patient was currently being treated at Royal North Shore. Picture: (AAP Image / Julian Andrews).

A case of the potentially fatal meningococcal disease was confirmed on the northern beaches over the long weekend.

A Northern Sydney Local Health District spokesman reassured residents that it was rare and did not spread easily.

A spokesman would not confirm where the patient was diagnosed, but said the patient was currently being treated at Royal North Shore.

Antibiotics were prescribed to those close to the patient to eradicate any meningococcal bacteria they may be carrying and prevent further transmission of the disease.

Meningococcal (neisseria meningitidis) disease bacterium germs under a microscope. Picture: Researchers Science Photo Library

“Over the long weekend the Northern Sydney Public Health Unit provided people who had contact with a confirmed case of meningococcal disease with clearance antibiotics and or precautionary health advice,” a spokesman said.

“People infected with meningococcal disease can become extremely unwell within hours of the first symptoms appearing, so it is important to know what to watch out for.”

The Federal Government has expanded the protection offered to infants under the National Immunisation Program to include meningococcal A, W and Y disease, in addition to the meningococcal C protection that has been offered since 2003.

In addition, the NSW Government has funded meningococcal ACWY vaccine for older adolescents in schools since 2017 in response to an increase in cases of meningococcal W in recent years.

A single, free meningococcal ACWY vaccine was offered to students in Years 11 and 12 in 2017 and Years 10 and 11 in 2018.

In 2019, it will be offered to students in Year 10.

The spokesman said people aged 15 to 19 years who had not received the ACWY vaccine via the school program could visit their GP to receive a free vaccine.