A case of invasive meningococcal disease has been notified in a five month old girl from metropolitan Adelaide. The patient has been admitted to hospital and is in a stable condition.

The meningococcal strain has been identified as serogroup B.

SA Health has identified multiple people who had contact with the patient, of whom seven people have been directed to receive clearance antibiotics.

Meningococcal health information has been distributed to contacts in accordance with the Invasive Meningococcal Disease Communicable Diseases Network Australia: National Guidelines for Public Health Units.

Winter and spring are commonly a higher risk time for meningococcal disease, but as the disease is only spread by close or lengthy contact, there is no increased public health risk.

There have been 19 cases of invasive meningococcal disease reported in South Australia this year, compared to 13 cases recorded at the same time last year.

This year, 12 of these cases have been B strain, five have been W strain and two have been Y strain.

SOURCE: SA Health