Woman fighting for life with meningococcal disease

A woman is in hospital in critical condition after contracting a potentially deadly disease, with a health authority warning that others may be affected.

A woman is fighting for her life in hospital after being diagnosed with potentially deadly meningococcal disease.

South Australia Health confirmed the woman in her 30s is in critical condition in hospital.

The health authority has identified multiple people who have come in contact with the case.

So far five people have been directed to take antibiotics in order to prevent further transmission of the disease. 

The woman has been diagnosed with serogroup B.

The disease is spread through respiratory droplets from the nose and throat.

The woman is in critical condition in hospital. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Headaches, fever, vomiting, neck stiffness and discomfort when looking at lights are some of the signs of meningococcal disease.

However children may experience leg pain or cold hands and feet.

They may also refuse to eat, have a high pitched or moaning cry, or be difficult to wake.

SA Health said vaccines are able to protect against several types of the disease, with the meningococcal B vaccine free for infants at six weeks, four months, 12 months, and also for young people in Year 10.

The meningococcal ACWY vaccine is also free for infants at 12 months and young people in Year 10.

However the health body warned the vaccines don’t protect against every type of meningococcal, and have urged Aussies to stay alert for symptoms.

There have been 26 cases of the bacterial disease in South Australia this year, which is five more cases compared to this time last year.

The health authority has recorded 23 cases of Serogroup B and three cases of Serogroup Y this year.

So far there have been no deaths in 2024 due to the disease, but one person died from meningococcal last year.

Originally published as Woman fighting for life with meningococcal disease