Arabic version: وفاة شاب بالغ بمرض المكورات السحائية في جنوب أستراليا
According to ABC News, a young adult infected with invasive meningococcal disease has died in South Australia. SA Health confirmed the death on Wednesday, after the case was confirmed by the state’s health minister and chief public health officer on Saturday, October 31.
SA Health said data confidentiality rules meant it could not provide further details about the deceased person. The person was the 22nd meningococcal case reported in South Australia this year.
Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier previously said close contacts of the infected person had been given preventative antibiotics. SA Health has reported no further meningococcal cases.
Failure to receive treatment after symptoms are detected can increase the risk of disability and death. Adolescents and very young children are among groups considered susceptible to the disease.
Professor Spurrier and Health Minister Blair Boyer have encouraged parents to vaccinate children younger than 12 months and students in Year 10, who are eligible for South Australia’s free vaccination program. A 36-year-old South Australian man died from the disease in 2023.
