South Australian woman fighting for life in hospital with invasive meningococcal disease

A woman is fighting for her life in an Adelaide hospital after being diagnosed with invasive meningococcal disease.

SA Health on Thursday confirmed the woman in her 30s was in a critical condition in hospital with the serogroup B strain.

“SA Health has identified multiple people who have been in contact with the case and so far, five people have been directed to receive clearance antibiotics to prevent further transmission,” it said.

The contagious bacterial infection, caused by meningococcal bacteria, is spread by droplets from the nose or throat and symptoms can develop quickly with serious consequences.

Symptoms can include the sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, neck stiffness, tiredness, joint pain, vomiting and a rash of red-purple spots or bruises. It can be fatal within hours if left untreated.

Children may be fretful, difficult to wake and refuse to eat, have leg pain, cold hands and feet, a high-pitched or moaning cry and pale, blotchy or abnormally coloured skin.

To date, 26 cases have been recorded in South Australia compared to 21 cases at the same time last year - the majority, serogroup B.

Vaccines are available to protect against several types of meningococcal disease.

In South Australia, the meningococcal B vaccine is available and free for infants at six weeks, four months, and 12 months and adolescents in Year 10.