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Three people have been diagnosed with meningococcal disease in Cairns, with two of them receiving treatment in hospital.
The outbreak, associated with St Mary’s Catholic College at Woree, was first detected through a single case on Monday.
Letters were sent home to parents yesterday to advise of two further cases.
Two students and one teacher are infected.
Meningococcal disease is caused by bacteria and is transmitted by close contact.
It can cause serious illness and death, with patients known to rapidly deteriorate after developing a tell-tale rash.
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Dr Richard Gair, the Director of Tropical Public Health Services (TPHS) in Cairns, says parents have been invited to a meeting at the school today.
“The bacteria can be spread via droplets from the nose or throat during coughing and sneezing or close contact such as kissing,” he said.
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“Contact tracing has been undertaken and TPHS have provided antibiotics to close household contacts in line with the national guidelines.”
As well as the rash, symptoms include vomiting, fever, headache, confusion, a stiff neck and joint pain.
If infection is diagnosed early enough and the right antibiotics are given quickly, most people make a complete recovery.
However, even with antibiotic treatment, invasive meningococcal disease causes death in about five to 10 per cent of cases.
Amputations of limbs can also be required.
A vaccine for meningococcus C is part of the National Immunisation Program, so the B strain is now the most common in Australia.
Immunisations for the B strain are available privately.
Main points
- Three people linked with St Mary's Catholic College in Woree have meningococcal disease
- Antibiotics are being offered to all students and staff
- The bacterial disease can cause serious illness and death, with patients known to deteriorate rapidly
