A case of invasive meningococcal disease has been notified in an 18-year-old male from rural South Australia. The patient has been admitted to hospital and is in a critical condition.
The strain has been identified as serotype B.
SA Health has identified multiple people who had contact with the patient, of whom two people have been directed to receive clearance antibiotics.
Meningococcal health information has been distributed to contacts in accordance with the Invasive Meningococcal Disease Communicable Diseases Network Australia: National Guidelines for Public Health Units.
There have been four cases of invasive meningococcal disease reported in South Australia this year, compared to three cases reported at the same time last year. All four cases this year have been typed as serogroup B.
A total of 12 cases were reported in 2021. Of the 12 cases, six were serogroup B and six were serogroup W.
