Man, 55, in hospital with meningococcal disease, SA’s 17th case this year

A man from regional South Australia is in hospital with meningococcal as the state racks up its 17th case this year.

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A 55-year-old man from regional South Australia is in a stable condition in hospital with meningococcal disease.

The latest case comes less than a week after Ferryden Park man Luke Wingfield, 36, died from meningococcal, the first death from the disease this year.

Mr Wingfield’s sister Tania Wingfield told the Sunday Mail relatives initially thought he had the flu, but his condition deteriorated and they called an ambulance last Tuesday morning. He died last Wednesday night.

Ms Wingfield described her brother as a beautiful person, saying: “Luke was a very quiet, humble, gentle giant who had a lot of love and respect for everybody that crossed his path.”

South Australian Luke Wingfield, who died of meningococcal Picture: Facebook

SA Health has identified multiple people who had recent contact with the latest case and two are being given antibiotics as a precaution.

It is the 17th case of meningococcal disease in South Australia so far this year, compared with eight cases at the same time last year and 14 for all of 2022 when there were two deaths.

The man now in hospital has the W strain. Of the 17 cases reported this year, 14 were the B strain, two were W and one is waiting on identification.

Of the 14 cases in 2022 12 were the B strain, one was Y and one was not able to be identified.

SA Health notes vaccines are available to protect against several types of meningococcal disease. In SA under state and federally funded programs the B vaccine is available for free for infants at six weeks, four months and 12 months and in adolescents in year 10.

The ACWY vaccine is available for free for infants at 12 months and in adolescents in year 10.

Officials stress that vaccines do not protect against all types of meningococcal, so even vaccinated people need to be alert for symptoms of the disease.

These can include headache, vomiting, fever, neck stiffness and discomfort when looking at lights. A skin rash may occur with tiny red or purple spots that spread and enlarge to look like fresh bruises.

At later stages of the illness people may develop shock and confusion.

Children may be fretful, difficult to wake and refuse to eat. They may have leg pain, cold hands and feet and a high-pitched or moaning cry. Children may also have pale, blotchy or abnormally coloured skin.

Originally published as Man, 55, in hospital with meningococcal disease, SA’s 17th case this year