Western Australia Issues Meningococcal Warning After Child Hospitalized

A child in Western Australia has been hospitalized with a strain of meningococcal disease, prompting an urgent health warning from WA Health. This case brings the total number of diagnoses for serogroup B to five this year, an increase from the 12 reported cases in all of 2025.

Another patient has been diagnosed with serogroup Y this year, compared to one case of that serogroup in 2025.

Meningococcal disease is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening illness caused by bacteria that can infect the blood or the membranes surrounding the spinal cord and brain. It can also affect other areas like the throat, lungs, or joints.

While most individuals recover with treatment, the disease can be fatal in 5 to 10 percent of cases. Approximately 15 percent of survivors may experience long-term complications, including hearing loss, limb amputations, or brain damage.

According to WA Health, the bacteria responsible for meningococcal disease are not easily spread between people. They are carried in the nose and throat of about 10 to 20 percent of the population at any given time and are typically expelled through coughing or sneezing in respiratory droplets. The bacteria do not survive for long outside the body and are not spread through saliva.

Symptoms of invasive meningococcal disease can include a high fever, chills, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, and severe muscle or joint pain. A rash, characterized by small red or purple spots that may resemble bruises, can sometimes accompany these symptoms. Young children may not vocalize their discomfort, making fever, pale or blotchy skin, vomiting, lethargy, poor feeding, and rash key indicators.

Vaccinations are available to protect against meningococcal disease. The MenACWY vaccine is provided free to children at 12 months old and to all Year 10 students, with a catch-up program for individuals aged 15 to 19. Free MenB vaccination is available for Aboriginal children up to two years old, and the MenACWY vaccine is free for Aboriginal children from six weeks to 12 months old. Both vaccines are also free for individuals of all ages with specific high-risk medical conditions. Those not eligible for free vaccinations can obtain them from an immunization provider for a fee.