Arabic version: شاب بالغ على أجهزة دعم الحياة بسبب المكورات السحائية «ب»
According to ABC News, a young adult is on life support in an Adelaide hospital after being diagnosed with invasive meningococcal B infection. The case is South Australia’s 22nd reported meningococcal disease case this year, compared with 13 at the same time in 2025.
Health authorities have carried out contact tracing and identified seven close contacts who will receive clearance antibiotics to help prevent further transmission. Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said the risk to the wider population was low, as transmission generally requires prolonged or very close contact, often within the same household.
Health Minister Blair Boyer and Professor Spurrier called for greater uptake of the meningococcal B vaccine. Boyer said roughly 50 per cent of eligible people in South Australia were vaccinated and covered for meningococcal B. The vaccine is free for South Australian children aged six weeks to 12 months and for Year 10 school students.
Professor Spurrier said young children are among those most at risk, with people aged 15 to 20 also a high-risk group. Invasive meningococcal disease is caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria and can spread to the bloodstream and brain. Symptoms can include rash, headache, fever, vomiting, neck stiffness and discomfort when looking at lights, and require urgent medical attention because death can occur within 24 hours. SA Health says up to 10 per cent of infected people can die even with rapid treatment.
