Health authorities issue alert after "invasive" disease fatality
<p>Health authorities in South Australia have issued an alert after a young man died from an "invasive" disease last week.</p>
<p>SA Health was notified that a case of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) was identified in a 29-year-old Adelaide man, after his death.</p>
<p>The man's strain was identified as serotype W - one of the most common strains in Australia.</p>
<p>Close contacts of the man have been identified and contacted.</p>
<p>Five people have been directed to receive clearance antibiotics.</p>
<p>The meningococcal case is the first invasive case to be reported in South Australia this year.</p>
<p>In 2020, a total of five cases were reported.</p>
<p>Meningococcal disease can affect all age groups but more common in young people, including children under the age of five and young adults aged 15 to 24.</p>
<p>Symptoms of meningococcal can vary depending on the person's age.</p>
<p>In young children, symptoms include over, red or purple spots, abnormal skin colour, leg pain, cold hands or feet, fretfulness, and a high-pitched or moaning cry.</p>
<p>In older children and adults, symptoms include headache, fever, vomiting, neck stiffness, photophobia, red or purple spots and joint pains.</p>
<p>The serious disease can also lead to meningitis, septicaemia, joint infection, eye infection and pneumonia.</p>
