Sixth case of virus in Hobart
Meningococcal vaccine blitz to begin as new case emerges
HOBART has experienced its sixth case of meningococcal disease — and first of strain Y — this year with another northern suburbs resident confirmed with the infection.
A 66-year-old Claremont man was confirmed with the disease on Thursday night and is being treated in the Royal Hobart Hospital.
Four of the six recent cases, including the death of a 16year-old girl, have related to the W strain of the disease, with one incidence of the B strain.
Four have occurred in the northern suburbs, where the government’s vaccination response is being rolled out first.
HOBART has experienced its sixth case of meningococcal disease, and first of strain Y, this year with another northern suburbs resident confirmed with the infection.
A 66-year-old Claremont man was confirmed with the disease on Thursday night and is being treated in the Royal Hobart Hospital.
Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said the patient was doing well.
Four of the six recent cases, including the death of a 16year-old girl, have related to the W strain of the disease, with one incidence of the B strain.
Four have occurred in the northern suburbs, where the State Government’s vaccination response is being rolled out first.
It will ramp up with 4000 jabs covering the A, C, W and Y strains to be administered at the Derwent Entertainment Centre this weekend.
Dr Veitch said Tasmania usually experienced only one case of strain Y each year, but the symptoms were similar to other strains.
“It means it’s unrelated to the previous cases of infection that have occurred in southern Tasmania over the last month,” he said.
“Meningococcal disease, in any strain, can occur at any place at any time so it’s an important reminder we need to be vigilant for the symptoms.”
Tasmania could experience a low of two to three cases in a year up to the 16 that occurred last year, Dr Veitch said.
Thirty thousand doses of the vaccine have been distributed to GPs this week, he said.
The close contacts of the latest patient were being managed by Public Health to mini- mise the risk of further infections.
All Tasmanians born after August 1, 1997, and who are at least six weeks old, are eligible for a free meningococcal vaccination.
Symptoms can include fever, severe headache, confusion, severe muscle pain and rash.
Babies and infants may not have these symptoms but can be unsettled or drowsy, pale or blotchy, floppy and not feeding.
The public vaccination clinic will be held from 9am-7pm on Saturday and from 9am-6pm on Sunday at the DEC.
The clinic is booked out, but a second weekend of vaccinations will take place in two weeks, on August 18-19, Dr Veitch said.
Bookings can be made at www. trybooking. com/ XGZJ and for assistance call 1800 093 758.