Third meningococcal case discovered in WA

A young man is fighting for life in a Perth hospital after contracting meningococcal disease, health authorities say.

It is the third case of meningococcal disease reported in Western Australia this year.

The age of the adult patient is not known, but he is said to be in a serious condition.

Meningococcal disease is an uncommon, life-threatening illness caused by a bacterial infection of the blood and/or membranes that line the spinal cord and brain.

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

The number of meningococcal cases has decreased significantly in WA in the past decade, with about 20 to 25 instances reported each year, which is down from a peak of 86 in 2000.

There were 16 cases in 2013, the lowest number recorded in more than 20 years.