House of Assembly Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1) 53 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Ministerial Statement Meningococcal Disease Meningococcal Disease The Hon. J.J. SNELLING House of Assembly Playford Minister for Health Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Minister for the Arts Minister for Health Industries The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:04): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement. Leave granted. The Hon. J.J. SNELLING House of Assembly The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: A case of invasive meningococcal disease has been notified in a 19-year-old woman from regional South Australia. She has been admitted to hospital and is in a stable condition. The woman is a student at the University of Adelaide and a boarder at St Ann's College. SA Health is working with both organisations to identify any possible contacts and provide information about symptoms. This is the 22^nd case of invasive meningococcal disease reported in South Australia during 2014, and the 10^th case this month. A total of 20 cases were reported in 2013. While there have been no links identified between this case and previous cases, I urge South Australians to remain vigilant. With a higher than usual number of meningococcal disease cases in the past few weeks, it is important people are aware of the symptoms and seek medical advice if they have concerns. Meningococcal bacteria live in the back of the throat of about 10 per cent of the population but are difficult to spread and are only passed from person to person by regular, close, prolonged contact. Symptoms of meningococcal infection may include fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck and sore muscles, followed in some cases by a rash of red and purple spots. While fairly rare, meningococcal infection numbers tend to be higher when there are more respiratory infections around, such as influenza. Unfortunately, South Australia is experiencing its worst flu season since 2009—the year of the swine flu pandemic. The latest figures show more than 8,000 influenza cases year to date, compared with just over 2,700 for the same period last year. In the case of the 19-year-old student, SA Health is currently identifying people who may have had close contact with the patient so they can receive preventative antibiotics. There will also be people who, while not at risk, have had some contact with the patient. These people will be provided with meningococcal health information in accordance with the Guidelines for the Early Clinical and Public Health Management for Meningococcal Disease in Australia. A public health alert reminding doctors to be alert to the symptoms of meningococcal disease was distributed earlier this month.