A HIGH-PROFILE health professional has urged community members “not to worry” about catching the invasive meningococcal disease with no evidence of an outbreak in Mount Gambier.
SA Health chief medical and public health officer Paddy Phillips said the disease – which claimed the life of a South East baby only weeks ago – can only be caught by prolonged close contact and is still classed as a rare disease.
These comments follow the confirmation of a second case of the serogroup B strain in two weeks, with a 15-year-old boy currently being treated in an undisclosed hospital.
The Mount Gambier High School student was reportedly in a stable condition with close friends and family treated for the disease as a precaution.
“The disease is not one that can be caught on a bus or in a brief passing, it is usually household members who are the ones most at risk,” Prof Phillips said.
“A total of 13 people have been treated with preventative antibiotics and if you have not been contacted by us already you should not be worried.
“We always interview the patients to ensure the disease does not spread and those closest are safe.”
However, Prof Phillips said although uncommon to catch, people should be aware of the signs and symptoms and seek immediate medical attention if they occur.
“Infants and young adults are the particular at risk age groups,” he said.
“Fevers, refusal to feed, pale blotchy skin and tiny red or purple spots are the main symptoms in infants, while headaches, neck stiffness, drowsiness and eventually a rash are more common signs in adults.
“However, it is important for people to know that it is a rare illness with only two or three cases a month.
“There has not been an increase in outbreaks and numbers are the same as they were this time last year.”
