UPDATE: A Darwin woman has died from meningococcal disease within 24 hours of contracting it.
The woman, in her 30s, passed away on New Year’s Eve.
The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Darwin director Vicki Krause said she was saddened by the death.
“This is a reminder it’s a very uncommon disease, but a very serious disease, and it can progress to very serious and even death in a very short span of time,” she said.
“We know the most common strain in the northern Territory is W strain. There is a quadrivalent vaccine, ACWY, and it’s free for people in the Territory aged one to nineteen and it doesn’t do any help if it’s on the shelves or in the refrigerator.
“It needs to be in people’s arms.”
Dr Krause said testing was being undertaken to identify the strain.
People in close contact with the woman were alerted of her death and were given the appropriate antibiotics.
“It’s really important that people feeling unwell, they go to the doctor straight away,” Dr Krause said.
“As soon as you get to the doctor, the sooner you get your antibiotics, the better the prognosis.”
EARLIER: A Darwin woman has died after contracting meningoccocal disease.
The Centre for Disease Control Darwin confirmed the woman’s death on Thursday.
The NT News understands the woman is from Darwin.
Another woman from a remote Top End community near Darwin died in August last year after also contracting meningococcal.
In that case the woman, who was living in both Darwin and the remote community, became unwell on July 31 and was flown to Royal Darwin Hospital but passed away on August 2.