Meningococcal WA: One dead and two in hospital as fatal disease takes hold
One person has died, while two people are recovering in hospital after being diagnosed with meningococcal disease.
The Western Australian Department of Health announced on Thursday that the three infected older adults are the state’s first cases this year. The things are not connected.
The state recorded nine cases in 2023 with no deaths.
One person has died and two others are recovering in hospital after being diagnosed with meningococcal disease in Western Australia (stock image)
The bacterium that causes the disease, neisseria meningitidis, is transmitted harmlessly from the back of the nose by about 10 to 20 percent of the population.
However, it can cause an incredibly dangerous infection if it enters the bloodstream.
Symptoms of the disease include fever, loss of appetite, drowsiness, leg pain, lack of energy, and seizures or convulsions.
Younger people who contract meningococcal disease may develop a rash that does not go away when pressed with a clear glass.
Anyone with symptoms is urged to seek immediate medical attention as the infection progresses alarmingly quickly.
Most patients recover with proper treatment, but the infection has a mortality rate of 5 to 10 percent.
About 15 percent of those infected may also experience long-term complications, such as hearing loss, limb amputations or brain damage.
Two of the cases were infected with serogroup B of the bacteria, while the other had serogroup W, two of the most common causes of meningococcal disease.
Symptoms of the disease include fever, loss of appetite, drowsiness, leg pain, lack of energy and seizures or convulsions, while younger people may develop a rash (pictured)
The department declined to release further information about the cases to respect the privacy of those infected.
There are two vaccines available against meningococci, one that protects against serogroup B, while the other protects against A, C, W and Y.
The former MenACWY vaccine is free for children up to 12 months old in the state and is being offered again to Year 10 students, with a free catch-up for children aged 15 to 19.
Aboriginal children receive both vaccines for free for longer periods due to the higher infection rate.