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Health Alert Meningococcal - All Australian Based Staff & Students

The University has been informed that a Monash Victorian campus student has been diagnosed with a case of meningococcal disease.

The student and people who have been identified as having close contact with the student, are receiving appropriate medical follow up by the Department of Human Services. Unfortunately at this stage, we can provide no more specific information regarding campus location as the Department of Human Services is currently following up all of the students' recent movements.

The risk of developing meningococcal disease is extremely low as the disease is difficult to spread. Only regular, close prolonged household and intimate contact spread the bacteria. However, as a general precaution, all staff and students are advised, that if in the next 3-4 weeks, they have concerns about their health or exhibit any symptoms of meningococcal disease, they should consult their doctor or University Health Services (UHS) as soon as possible.  (This information should be shown to your doctor).

Signs and symptoms include: 

Infants and young children

  • Fever 
  • Refusing to take feeds 
  • Irritability, fretfulness, grunting or moaning 
  • Extreme tiredness/drowsiness
  • Floppiness
  • Dislike of being handled
  • Vomiting and/or diarrhoea 
  • Turning away from light (photophobia)
  • Convulsions or twitching
  • Rash of red-purple pinprick spots or larger bruises

Older children and adults

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • General malaise
  • Neck stiffness or aching
  • Discomfort when looking at bright lights (photophobia)
  • Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
  • Muscles aches
  • Painful or swollen joints and/or difficulty walking
  • Moaning, unintelligible speech
  • Drowsiness
  • Confusion
  • Collapse
  • Rash of red-purple pinprick spots or larger bruises

Signs and symptoms can appear very quickly, and people with meningococcal disease can get much worse within a few hours. If you or someone close to you has some of these symptoms seek medical attention from your doctor or nearest hospital emergency department immediately.

In addition staff and students should be aware of the availability of a meningococcal vaccine to the general public. Although now part of the Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule, some staff /students may not have been immunised against meningococcal disease and may wish to consult with their doctor or UHS for further information.

For further information refer to:

  • The Department of Human Services on 1300 65 11 60
  • The Department of Human Services Facts Sheet (Note:  New phone number for Department of Human Services is as above not as listed on this fact sheet)
  • University Health Service on 9905 3175
  • Occupational Health and Safety on 9905 1014
  • Ask Monash
  • Better Health