South Australian meningococcal patient on life support in Adelaide hospital

A young adult is in a critical condition on life support in hospital after being diagnosed with invasive meningococcal disease. SA Health has traced multiple close contacts of the patient, who is in an Adelaide hospital, and seven people are receiving antibiotics to prevent further transmission. Meningococcal B is the most prevalent strain of the disease in Australia, responsible for at least 80 per cent of cases in 2022, 2023 and 2024. The disease kills between five and 10 per cent of patients and leaves another 10 to 20 per cent with brain damage, hearing loss or a learning disability. There have been 22 cases of meningococcal disease in South Australia in 2026, compared to 15 in 2025. Twenty cases involved the B strain, compared to 13 in 2025. SA Health Minister Blair Boyer urged the public to “protect our loved ones by taking advantage of vaccinations”.