Meningococcal disease in man from regional South Australia

A 55-year-old man from regional South Australia is in a steady situation in hospital with meningococcal illness.

The newest case comes lower than per week after Ferryden Park man Luke Wingfield, 36, died from meningococcal, the primary dying from the illness this yr.

Mr Wingfield’s sister Tania Wingfield instructed the Sunday Mail kin initially thought he had the flu, however his situation deteriorated and so they referred to as an ambulance final Tuesday morning. He died final Wednesday evening.

Ms Wingfield described her brother as a stupendous particular person, saying: “Luke was a really quiet, humble, mild big who had a whole lot of love and respect for everyone that crossed his path.”

SA Well being has recognized a number of individuals who had current contact with the newest case and two are being given antibiotics as a precaution.

It’s the seventeenth case of meningococcal illness in South Australia to this point this yr, in contrast with eight circumstances on the identical time final yr and 14 for all of 2022 when there have been two deaths.

The person now in hospital has the W pressure. Of the 17 circumstances reported this yr, 14 have been the B pressure, two have been W and one is ready on identification.

Of the 14 circumstances in 2022 12 have been the B pressure, one was Y and one was not capable of be recognized.

SA Well being notes vaccines can be found to guard in opposition to a number of varieties of meningococcal illness. In SA underneath state and federally funded applications the B vaccine is on the market free of charge for infants at six weeks, 4 months and 12 months and in adolescents in yr 10.

The ACWY vaccine is on the market free of charge for infants at 12 months and in adolescents in yr 10.

Officers stress that vaccines don’t shield in opposition to all varieties of meningococcal, so even vaccinated folks must be alert for signs of the illness.

These can embody headache, vomiting, fever, neck stiffness and discomfort when taking a look at lights. A pores and skin rash might happen with tiny pink or purple spots that unfold and enlarge to seem like contemporary bruises.

At later phases of the sickness folks might develop shock and confusion.

Youngsters could also be fretful, tough to wake and refuse to eat. They could have leg ache, chilly fingers and ft and a high-pitched or moaning cry. Youngsters may additionally have pale, blotchy or abnormally colored pores and skin.

Initially revealed as Man, 55, in hospital with meningococcal illness, SA’s seventeenth case this yr