A woman is in a serious but stable condition in a Hunter hospital after contracting meningococcal disease.
It’s the fifth case the Hunter New England Health region has seen this year.
It comes as a young child died from the condition just last week in the region, however there are no links between the two cases.
Close contacts of the patient have been prescribed clearance antibiotics
Physicians have reminded the public to seek medical attention quickly in order to prevent serious complications.
The first symptoms of meningococcal disease may include pain in the legs, cold hands and feet and abnormal skin colour. Later symptoms may include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, dislike of bright lights, nausea and vomiting, a rash of reddish-purple spots or bruises and drowsiness. Babies with the infection can be irritable, not feed properly and have an abnormal cry.
