A Darwin man aged in his 30s has died with meningococcal disease, the Northern Territory health department has confirmed.
The man died at Royal Darwin Hospital, and had not recently travelled interstate or overseas.
"We send our condolences [to] this man's family and friends," NT Health said in a Facebook post.
"All close contacts have been identified and the Centre for Disease Control is providing information and care as required."
So far this year, there have been two cases of meningococcal disease reported in the NT.
The second case was a female in 30s from Alice Springs.
The two cases are unlinked.
Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious infection that can kill within hours.
There are five main strains that cause the disease — A, B, C, W and Y.
The most common strain currently in the Northern Territory is W, according to NT Health.
While deadly, the disease can be prevented by vaccination.
In the NT, people aged one to 19 years old can get a free meningococcal vaccine against the A, C, W and Y strains.
People older than 19 can request a private script for a vaccine from their GP.
Symptoms include:
- red or purple rash of pinprick spots
- large bruise-like spots that don't turn skin-coloured when you press on them
- fever
- headache
- neck stiffness
- light sensitivity
- nausea or vomiting
- diarrhoea
- drowsiness and confusion
- difficulty walking or talking.
If you or someone you know has symptoms, call triple zero or go straight to hospital.
Most people who are diagnosed and treated with antibiotics quickly will make a full recovery.
Long-term complications include hearing loss, fits, limb amputation, renal failure and skin scarring, according to NT Health.
