Meningococcal in WA: Health warning after two more cases of disease reported in state

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Meningococcal in WA: Health warning after two more cases of ******** reported in state

WA has recorded two more cases of meningococcal ******** bringing the total to nine for the year.

An ****** with serogroup Y and a child with serogroup B have been hospitalised with meningococcal, which is a life-threatening illness caused by a bacterial infection of the blood and the membranes that line the spinal cord and brain.

It can also occasionally infect other sites including the throat, lungs, or large joints.

Nine cases have been reported in WA so far this year with seven of those people having serogroup B, one had serogroup W and one was serogroup Y.

One of the adults ***** in April as a result of contracting the ********.

The bacteria is present in droplets from the nose and throat when coughing or sneezing but is not easily spread due to not surviving more than a few seconds in the environment.

Symptoms include high fever, chills, headache, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, and severe muscle and ****** pain.

In young children, fever, pale or blotchy complexion, vomiting, lethargy and poor feeding are important signs.

Symptoms may be accompanied by the appearance of a spotty red-purple rash that looks like small bleeding points beneath the skin or bruises.

The MenACWY vaccine is offered free to all children at 12-months-old, and all Year 10 students, with a free catch-up program for teens aged 15-19.

Most people recover from meningococcal ********, but a small proportion — 5-10 per cent — will ****, and about 15 per cent may experience long-term complications like hearing loss, limb amputations or brain damage.

Thee were nine cases of meningococcal reported in WA for the whole of 2023.

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