Meningococcal Disease - Information For Communities
There have been 3 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease in the MidCentral region during July/August. Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial disease which can affect anyone but it is more common in children under the age of 5, teenagers and young adults. It can look like influenza in its early stages but it can very quickly get much worse. The illness may develop slowly over 1-2 days or quickly over a period of a few hours so it is important to not wait and seek immediate medical help in the early stages of symptoms - ring a doctor - or ring Healthline 0800 611 116 straightaway at any time of the day, even if you have already been seen by a doctor.