Tasmania’s three recent cases of meningococcal B disease have heightened the attention paid to the infection, which is caused by Neisseria meningitides bacteria.
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The different bacterial strains are named by letters of the alphabet such as B, W and Y, with six types seen throughout Australia.
There are an average of three meningococcal B cases in Tasmania each year, with the W strain more prevalent than B both in Tasmania and nationally.
The W strain has caused more than half of all meningococcal cases since 2016, including five cases in Tasmania since July this year.
Public vaccinations are available for four strains – A, C, W and Y – with a B vaccine available via private prescription, Public Health acting director Dr Scott McKeown said.
“Tasmania continues to support the ongoing negotiations between the Australian government and the pharmaceutical manufacturers of meningococcal B vaccine as part of the national process to ensure the meningococcal B vaccine is effective in community-based immunisation programs,” Dr McKeown said.
Launceston residents aged between six weeks and 21 years can receive a free public meningococcal ACWY vaccination at Albert Hall, on Saturday, October 6.
Appointments need to be booked for the vaccinations on the Health department’s website, with bookings opening one week before the clinic.
Dr McKeown said people could still attend their usual medical practitioner to receive the vaccine before the clinic.
“While the public clinics are a great chance to get a meningococcal ACWY vaccine, I encourage eligible Tasmanians to continue to get the free vaccine from a general practitioner or pharmacist and not wait for the clinics,” Dr McKeown said.
Meningococcal disease is usually a blood infection (septicemia) or an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).
Symptoms of meningococcal disease include fever, severe aches and pains, headache, drowsiness and confusion. Infants can be distressed, limp, pale and feed poorly.
Less common symptoms are lung infection (with fever, cough, chest pain and difficulty breathing), or severe throat infection (with pain, difficulty swallowing and drooling).
Anyone concerned they have meningococcal disease symptoms should seek emergency medical care.
For further information about the public meningococcal vaccinations visit www.health.tas.gov.au or call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
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