Invasive meningococcal disease has been confirmed in a six-month-old baby from regional South Australia who sadly passed away yesterday.

The strain has been identified as serogroup B.

This is a very sad and rare event and we offer our sincere condolences to the family at this distressing time.

We have identified a number of people who had contact with the boy and have directed them to receive clearance antibiotics.

Meningococcal health information is being distributed to contacts in accordance with the Invasive Meningococcal Disease Communicable Diseases Network Australia: National Guidelines for Public Health Units.

The disease is only spread by close or lengthy contact and there is no increased public health risk.

So far this year there have been 5 confirmed cases of invasive meningococcal disease reported in South Australia, compared to 4 at the same time last year.

A total of 36 cases were reported in 2017.

For more information about meningococcal disease visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au.

SOURCE: SA Health