Authorities in one Australian state have sounded the alarm after a child was struck down with potentially deadly meningococcal disease.

WA Health reported the minor was diagnosed with serogroup B, a strain there is a vaccine for, and is recovering in hospital.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: WA Health issues warning after child struck down by meningococcal

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Four cases of the contagious illness have been reported in WA in 2026 — three were serogroup B and one deadly case in an adult was serogroup Y.

The latest case comes after authorities warned people travelling to Europe to be aware of a deadly wave of meningococcal B, after the sudden death Perth student Alexander “Zander” Philogenes overseas in April.

And 7NEWS recently shared the story of a rarely deployed green light corridor system that was used by emergency services to rush a Sydney toddler with a serogroup B infection across town for lifesaving treatment.

“Meningococcal disease is an uncommon, life-threatening illness caused by a bacterial infection of the blood and/or the membranes that line the spinal cord and brain, and occasionally of other sites, such as the throat, lungs or large joints,” WA Health said in its alert on Monday.

“The (meningococcal) bacteria are spread by respiratory droplets from the nose and throat when coughing or sneezing, but are not spread by saliva and do not survive for more than a few seconds in the environment.”

The symptoms of meningococcal disease

Symptoms include a fever, chills, headache, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, and severe muscle and joint pains.

It can also cause the red or purple rash the infection is well known for.

About 20 per cent of people carry the bacteria harmlessly. 

“Young children may not complain of symptoms, so fever, pale or blotchy complexion, vomiting, lethargy, poor feeding and rash are important signs,” WA Health said.

“Although invasive meningococcal disease can be treated with antibiotics, it can progress very rapidly. Anyone with symptoms ... should seek urgent medical attention.”

WA recorded 13 meningococcal cases in 2025. Twelve were serogroup B and one was serogroup Y.