Three young children from Brisbane's northside have contracted the potentially fatal meningococcal disease after spending New Year's Eve with their family at Brisbane's South Bank Parklands.
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A two-year-old was taken first to Prince Charles Hospital on Sunday, then to the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital on Sunday night where the disease was confirmed.
The two-year-old's two siblings were also confirmed to have contracted meningococcal.
On Sunday four children were taken by several worried families to the nearby Lady Cilento Children's Hospital at South Brisbane for testing, where on Monday three tested positive to meningococcal disease.
Fairfax Media understands the three children were from one family and all are aged under five years.
Dr Megan Young, Public Health Physician, Metro North Public Health Unit confirmed the three children come from Brisbane's northside and had been admitted to Lady Cilento Children's Hospital (LCCH) with meningococcal disease.
"The strain of meningococcal disease has not yet been confirmed," Dr Young said.
"The children became ill following an extended family gathering over the holiday break and were admitted on New Year's Day to LCCH where they continue to receive treatment," she said.
Queensland Health is now co-ordinating how to trace the family's movements over the Christmas-New Year period to notify those who may have been in contact with the children.
"Those who had close contact with the children have been identified," she said.
"And the majority provided with information and antibiotics where appropriate.
"Our public health unit is continuing to follow up some contacts."
The most common symptoms are a sudden high fever and chills, a headache, a stiff neck and purple areas on the skin that look like bruises.
Meningococcal is a publicly notifiable disease because it is potentially fatal, but most times the bacteria is carried harmlessly at the back of the throat.
It is transmitted by coughing, sneezing, kissing or sharing food and drinks.
Meningococcal disease is an acute bacterial infection, which can be fatal if it is not recognised and treated in time.
Who is at risk?
Those most at risk of meningococcal disease are babies and children up to five years of age – making up two-thirds of Australian cases - because young children tend to share drinks and food.
Also at risk are teenagers and young adults – 15 to 24 years of age – because they are "socially interactive".
Medical authorities note the meningococcal bacteria only lives outside the human body for a short while.
"The danger only occurs if you pick up a strain you're not immunised against, or don't have any natural immunity to — or if your immune system has for some reason become weakened and cannot cope," Meningoccoal Australia says.
Meningococcal disease can appear in different forms depending on which section of the body the bacteria invades.
Different forms of meningococcal disease
There are five main strains of meningococcal disease and vaccinations are available from GPs.
Meningococcal meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain and of the spinal cord and it can be either fungal, viral or bacterial.
The symptoms for this form are a severe headache, fever, fatigue, stiff or painful neck and sensitivity to light or convulsions.
Meningococcal septicaemia is when the meningococcal disease infects the blood system.
The symptoms for this form are also a fever, fatigue, vomiting, cold hands and feet, cold shivers, severe aches or pain in the muscles, joints, chest or abdomen, rapid breathing, diarrhoea – and, in the later stages, a pinprick or purple bruise-like rash.
