A child has been diagnosed with meningococcal in Western Australia - the second case this year.
The Department of Health said on Tuesday the child was recovering in hospital from strain W and their close contacts had been provided with information, and where appropriate, antibiotics and a vaccine.
Health Minister John Day this week announced a free vaccine against the potentially deadly meningococcal strains A, C, W and Y for teenagers aged 15 to 19.
He said the incidence of the W strain had been rising since 2013, but jumped from four in 2015 to 14 last year, compared to three cases during the four-year period to 2014.
More than 150,000 WA students and young adults are expected to be vaccinated over the three-year program.
A vaccine to protect against strain C is provided free to children at 12 months of age, and a vaccine against strain B is available on prescription.
Of the 22 cases reported in WA last year, five were strain B, two were strain Y and 14 were serogroup W, up from the long term average of about one serogroup W case per year.
Meningococcal is a life-threatening but uncommon illness caused by a bacterial infection.
