Warning: Rare bacterial infections on rise

Warning: Rare bacterial infections on rise

New South Wales residents are being urged to maintain a watch out for signs of two uncommon, however extreme bacterial infections.

Cases of each meningococcal illness and invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS) infections have elevated in latest weeks.

While infections are uncommon, each may cause dying or everlasting incapacity.

Executive Director of Health Protection NSW, Dr Richard Broome, stated of their early levels the infections typically mimic signs of viral infections, like Covid-19 and flu.

“While notification data on iGAS has only recently become available in NSW, the number of people unwell with the condition has clearly increased here and across the world,” stated Dr Broome.

People with meningococcal illness could expertise extreme headache, neck stiffness, dislike of brilliant lights or unexplained joint or limb ache.

A rash might also happen, however typically presents later within the sickness, so folks shouldn’t look ahead to the rash to look.

Invasive group A streptococcus may cause totally different signs, together with muscle aches and pains, and a pink, heat, painful, quickly spreading pores and skin an infection, whereas youngsters could current with a sunburn-like rash.

One-hundred and thirty-seven instances of Invasive group A streptococcus have been recorded in NSW between September and December, whereas there have been 36 instances of meningococcal illness over the entire of 2022.

If you’re involved about your or your youngster’s well being, name your GP or HealthDirect on 1800 022 222. If you or the individual you take care of is significantly unwell name triple-0.

More data on both an infection might be discovered right here.

Originally printed as Rare bacterial infections on rise, sparking well being authorities warning