WA Health Reports Adult Meningococcal Case as 2026 Total Reaches Nine
Published
WA Health has reported that an adult diagnosed with meningococcal serogroup B disease is recovering in hospital in Western Australia. Eight other invasive meningococcal cases have been reported in 2026, seven involving serogroup B and one serogroup Y, bringing the total to nine. The department recorded 13 cases in 2025, comprising 12 serogroup B cases and one serogroup Y case. Its release describes meningococcal disease as an uncommon, potentially life-threatening bacterial infection affecting the blood or membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and identifies separate vaccines for different serogroups.