Student tests positive for meningococcal at Yirara College in Alice Springs

A student who tested positive for meningococcal at an Alice Springs school is recovering, with the NT Centre for Disease Control revealing the number of confirmed cases this year.

Yirara College, located south of Alice Springs. Picture: File

A student at a Red Centre boarding school has tested positive for meningococcal and NT Health says there’s been “no further cases”.

In a statement issued on Monday, Yirara College principal Wesley Meurant said the boarding student returned the positive test after the school holidays.

Yirara College principal Wesley Meurant. Picture: Gera Kazakov

“Due to the quick and effective response from our boarding staff and school nurse, the student was promptly taken to the hospital and received immediate treatment,” the statement read.

The student is “recovering well,” according to the statement, and the school is “following expert medical guidance to ensure the highest standard of care for our school and community”.

Other boarding students have been tested for meningococcal, the statement said, and the students were also given antiviral medication as a preventive step.

“At this stage, no additional cases of meningococcal disease have been identified. We will continue to monitor the situation and watch for any symptoms,” the statement said.

Yirara College, Alice Springs. Picture: File

A NT Health spokeswoman said the student was 15-years-old, and the Territory Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has worked with the school to “provide education and raise awareness about symptoms of meningococcal disease”.

“There have been no further cases of meningococcal disease in Alice Springs,” the spokeswoman said.

Since the beginning of the year, the NT CDC has received notifications of 69 cases of “invasive meningococcal disease,” the spokeswoman said.

“In accordance with the NT’s free meningococcal B program for infants and adolescents, NT Health is providing Yirara students with meningococcal B vaccinations, including catch up meningococcal ACWY vaccinations,” the spokeswoman said.

Mr Muerant was contacted for further comment.

Originally published as Student tests positive for meningococcal at Yirara College in Alice Springs