Six people diagnosed with meningococcal in WA in 2019

AN adult is recovering in a Perth hospital today after they contracted the potentially deadly meningococcal disease.

The Health Department reported that this is the sixth person in WA in 2019 to be diagnosed with the disease.

Of the six cases, one has been serogroup B, two serogroup W and three serogroup C meningococcal infections.

The incidence of meningococcal disease has been increasing due to the emergence of new virulent strains of serogroup W and to a lesser extent serogroup Y meningococcal bacteria.

A total of 41 cases were notified in WA in 2018. This was less than the 46 cases notified in 2017, but well above the long term average for annual cases.

The number of serogroup W cases in 2018 (30) was also the highest reported in any year.