New meningococcal case detected in South Australia

South Australia has recorded another case of meningococcal just days after health authorities announced a two-year-old with the disease had died.

SA Health has confirmed a 28-year-old from Adelaide has been hospitalised with the serogroup B strain of the "invasive" disease.

Seven people confirmed to have been in contact with the patient have been notified to take clearance antibiotics.

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Meningococcal is a serious illness that typically causes meningitis, or inflammation in the lining of the brain and spinal cord and can cause blood poisoning, or septicemia.

In rare cases the disease can trigger other conditions like septic arthritis, conjunctivitis and pneumonia

The symptoms of meningococcal typically appear quickly and even with immediate treatment can cause death in 5 to 10 per cent of patients.

The bacterial illness is spread by close contact or coughing near another person.

SA Health confirmed eight cases of invasive meningococcal had been reported in the state this year, an increase from the six cases detected by July last year.

Twelve people were diagnosed in 2021 and three people died from the disease.

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"Of the eight cases this year, all have been typed as serogroup B," SA Health said in a statement.

The two year-old child, from a rural community, was the first to die in South Australia from the disease this year.

Fifteen other children confirmed to have been in contact with the toddler have been given preventative medicine.

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