A young Australian is fighting for life on life support after contracting meningococcal disease.

The Adelaide adult was diagnosed with invasive meningococcal disease, identified as serogroup B, and remains in a critical condition on life support.

SA Health has identified multiple close contacts, with seven people to receive antibiotics to prevent further transmission

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Meningococcal cases surge

The case is the latest in a surge of the disease across the state this year.

There have been 22 cases of meningococcal cases recorded in South Australia so far this year, compared with 13 at the same time in 2025.

Meningococcal disease is caused by several different groups of bacteria, known as serogroups, with serogroup B responsible for the majority of cases recorded in South Australia this year.

The latest figures show 20 of this year’s cases were serogroup B, while one was serogroup Y and another was non-serogroupable.

There have been no deaths recorded in either 2025 or 2026.

What to know about meningococcal disease

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Meningococcal disease can progress rapidly and become life-threatening without immediate medical intervention.

Symptoms can include headache, fever, vomiting, neck stiffness and sensitivity to light.

A rash may also develop, with tiny red or purple spots that can quickly spread and enlarge to resemble fresh bruises.

Other warning signs in young children include being unusually irritable, difficult to wake or refusing to eat.

Children may also experience leg pain, cold hands and feet, a high-pitched or moaning cry, and pale or blotchy skin.

Health authorities are urging people to seek urgent medical attention if they develop symptoms or signs of meningococcal disease.

SA Health Minister Blair Boyer urged the public to “protect our loved ones by taking advantage of vaccinations”.

“We need to just remember that this can be fatal,” he said on Saturday.

“I think sometimes there can be a tendency for us to get a bit blase about things like this because we think they might be a problem of the past.”

However, vaccination does not protect against every type of meningococcal disease, and people should remain alert to the symptoms even if they are vaccinated.