Duntroon cadet diagnosed with meningococcal

An Australian Defence Force Academy cadet is in intensive care after she was diagnosed with meningococcal disease.

The Officer Cadet reported herself ill with flu-like symptoms to the Canberra Area Medical Unit at Duntroon on Saturday night and was immediately taken to Canberra Hospital, the Department of Defence has confirmed.

The diagnosis was not immediately confirmed and was referred for further laboratory testing while other cadets and academy members were confined to barracks on Saturday night.

The confinement was later lifted following instruction from ACT Health.

The ADF and ACT Public Health have conducted a coordinated effort and guidelines to prevent the spread of the disease were followed.

No other cases have been reported and members who were in close contact with the cadet have been given medical attention and support.

The cadet remains in intensive care and ADF is working with family members and ACT Public Health.

Author: Nicholas McCallum, Approving editor: Simon Black