Child with meningococcal dies in NSW

A young child has died in the NSW Hunter region from meningococcal disease.

It's the first death and fourth case of meningococcal in the area, the NSW health department said.

Close contacts of the child have been prescribed clearance antibiotics and there are no links between the case and any previous meningococcal cases.

Public health physician David Durrheim urged people to be on the alert for symptoms of the disease.

"If anyone suspects meningococcal disease, they should seek medical attention immediately," Dr Durrheim said.

Up to 10 per cent of patients with invasive meningococcal disease in Australia die as a result of the infection.

The early symptoms may include pain in the legs, cold hands and feet and abnormal skin colour.

Sufferers of the disease may later experience a high fever, headache, neck stiffness, dislike of bright lights, nausea and vomiting, a rash of reddish-purple spots or bruises and drowsiness.

Babies with the infection can be irritable, not feed properly and have an abnormal cry.