More WA meningococcal disease confirmed

The WA Department of Health says 20 cases of meningococcal disease have been diagnosed in the state so far this year, and a young child is the latest victim.

A young child is recovering in a West Australian hospital from meningococcal disease and hospital authorities say it's linked to another reported case.

So far this year, 20 cases have been diagnosed in the state, up from 17 last year, and 12 of them have been the once-rare serogroup W strain, compared to the long-term average of around one case per year.

Three people have died from meningococcal disease in WA this year - an adult in March, a young child in September and another adult last month.