An infant is in a serious but stable condition in a Hunter hospital with a confirmed case of meningococcal disease.
It's the third case of the disease in the Hunter New England Local Health district this year.
Family and those who have had close contact with the child have been prescribed clearance antibiotics.
It comes after the district recorded 10 cases of meningococcal disease in 2016.
Across Australia, up to 10 per cent of patients with meningococcal die as a result of the disease, but Public Health Physician Dr David Durrheim stresses that while it is a serious disease, in most cases, early detection and treatment does result in a full recovery.
The first symptoms of the disease may include pain in the legs, cold hands and feet, and abnormal skin colour.
Later symptoms include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting, a rash of reddish-purple spots or bruises, drowsiness, and dislike of bright lights.
If anyone suspects meningococcal disease they should seek medical attention immediately.
