Meningococcal WA: One dead and two in hospital as deadly disease strikes trends now
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One person has died while two are recovering in hospital after being diagnosed with meningococcal disease.
The Western Australian Department of Health on Thursday announced the three infected older adults are the state's first cases this year. The cases are not linked.
The state recorded nine cases with no deaths across 2023.
One person has died and two others are recovering in hospital after being diagnosed with meningococcal disease in Western Australia (stock image)
The bacteria which causes the disease, neisseria meningitidis, is carried harmlessly in the back of the nose by about 10-20 per cent of the population.
It can however cause an incredibly dangerous infection if it makes its way into the blood stream.
Symptoms of the disease include a fever, lack of appetite, drowsiness,
