NSW Health Has Issued A Meningococcal Warning For Splendour Punters
Two people have tested positive after attending the festival, one of whom has since died.
In addition to the obvious threat of COVID, Splendour In The Grass punters are now being warned to be on high alert for the signs of meningococcal after two people have tested positive to the deadly disease.
NSW Health has issued a public health alert for the bacterial infection, urging anyone who feels severely unwell to see a doctor immediately.
“It can kill within hours, so early diagnosis and treatment is vital,” a warning from NSW Health read. “Do not wait for the purple rash to appear as that is a late stage of the disease.”
Meningococcal causes blood poisoning and meningitis — or, spinal cord and brain inflammation. The disease can also cause scarring, loss of limbs, and brain damage, with a fatality rate of about 5-10 percent.
One of the two confirmed cases, a man in his 40s, has died with the disease in the weeks following the festival.
While the disease is uncommon, and it’s unlikely a major outbreak will occur, anyone who attended the festival is being urged to monitor for symptoms and act immediately if they appear.
How Does It Spread?
Meningococcal spreads through secretions from the nose and throat, but unlike COVID, the bacteria doesn’t survive very well outside of the body. This means the risk of infection from sharing cigarettes, vapes, or drinks is lower.
The bacteria is usually spread through close and prolonged contact with a positive case, with NSW Health confirming that this means “living in the same household or intimate (deep) kissing.”
According to NSW Health, those most at risk of contracting meningococcal include:
- Household contacts of patients with meningococcal disease
- Infants, small children, adolescents, and young adults
- People who smoke or are exposed to tobacco smoke
- People who practice intimate (deep mouth) kissing, especially with more than one partner
- People who have recently had a viral upper respiratory tract illness
- Travellers to countries with high rates of meningococcal disease
- People with no working spleen, or who have certain other rare medical conditions
Didn’t We Get Vaccinated For Meningococcal?
A vast majority of us likely would’ve been vaccinated for meningococcal in primary school, but NSW Health has warned that childhood vaccinations don’t protect against all strains of the disease, so it’s worth being on high alert — even if you were vaccinated back in the day.
What Are The Symptoms?
While the most well known symptom of meningococcal is the rash with red and purple spots, it’s important to note that this only comes at late stages of infection — so you shouldn’t wait for a rash to appear before seeking medical attention. Also, not all people will develop a rash.
Early symptoms could include cold hands, abnormal skin colour, and leg pain, before further, more obvious symptoms appear.
Symptoms include:
- Sudden onset of fever
- Headache
- Neck stiffness
- Joint pain
- A rash of red-purple spots or bruises
- Dislike of bright lights
- Nausea and vomiting
Image: Gxbrielle Mxry