SYDNEY, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The health authority in Western Australia (WA) has confirmed that one older adult died and two others were hospitalized after being diagnosed with meningococcal disease.
"Two cases were caused by serogroup B and one by serogroup W. Sadly one adult has died, and the other two adults are recovering in hospital. The cases were not linked," the WA Department said in a statement on Thursday.
These are the first three cases of meningococcal disease that have been reported in WA so far this year. The latest confirmed death is also believed to be the first one since a case died in the state in 2020.
According to the health authority, meningococcal disease is an uncommon, life-threatening illness caused by a bacterial infection.
The bacteria are present in droplets discharged from the nose and throat when coughing or sneezing and do not survive more than a few seconds in the environment. On very rare occasions, they invade the bloodstream or tissues and cause serious infections.
Last year, nine meningococcal cases were confirmed in WA and there were no deaths. ■
