A West -Australian man has been admitted to the hospital with meningococcal disease that marks the sixth case of the state of the deadly disease this year.
WA Health said on Tuesday that the man was diagnosed with meningococci type B and recovered in the hospital.
So far, six things have been registered in the entire state this year. In 2024 a total of 13 cases were registered together with one death.
Meningococcal disease is not easy to spread and is a relatively unusual disease.
Although the bacteria can be found in drops that are unloaded by sneezing and coughing, it is not spread by saliva and it cannot survive more than a few seconds in the area.
Where it is contracted, however, the disease can kill five to ten percent of patients, while it leaves another 15 percent with long -term complications.
In severe cases it can kill patients within 24 hours after resolving the disease.
WA Health said that long -term complications can include hearing loss, limb camps and brain damage.
Meningococcal disease kills a maximum of ten percent of patients who sometimes develop a spotty red-purple rash with the appearance of small bleeding points under the skin (file image)
Shown is a 3D microscope close-up of the meningococcus bacteria
“Although meningococcal infection can be treated with antibiotics, it can progress very quickly, so it is important that everyone with these symptoms is urgently looking for medical help,” Wa Health said in a statement on Tuesday.
Common symptoms are high fever, chills, headache, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting, sleepiness, confusion and severe muscle and joint pain.
Sometimes, but not always, patients will develop a spotty red-purple rash with the appearance of small bleeding under the skin.
Young children can present a fever, pale or flavoring complexion, vomiting, lethargy, poor nutrition and results.
Four cases of the disease were registered by WA Health in a few weeks in April, two of which were registered by brothers and sisters in the same household.
Three of those four cases were identified as Type B, so that the state government was requested to increase the financing for type B vaccine.
Type B meningococci is the most likely tension to cause serious illness.
There are two types of meningococcal vaccines – one that are designed to protect against types A, C, W and Y and another for type B.
WA Health warned patients to seek medical help immediately, since the disease can claim ‘very quickly’ (stock image)
The combined vaccine for A, C, W and Y tribes is free for children of 12 months under the national immunization program, while the type B vaccine is not.
Due to the higher prevalence at Aboriginal children in WA, the type B vaccine is offered for free to Aboriginal children up to 12 months old.
It was released for children and adolescents in South Australia in 2018, which led to a reduction of 60 percent in infants and 73 percent for adolescents.
Queensland and the Northern Territory have since rolled out free type B vaccination programs for adolescents.
Without subsidies, one type B JAB can cost hundreds of dollars.
Last year the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) called on the WA government to close this ‘huge gap in immunization coverage’.
“We know that this vaccine is safe and effective – it’s the best protection against this deadly disease,” said RACGP West -Australia, Dr. Ramya Raman.
“Freeing this vaccine for children and risky age groups will save lives.”
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