Antibiotics have been given to nearly 1000 students at a Queensland high school after three meningococcal cases were discovered.
Cases have come to the fore this week at St Mary’s Catholic College in Cairns. There is one teacher and two students.
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Two patients are in the hospital, while one has been discharged.
On Friday, health officials rolled out antibiotics to stop the spread of the disease.
Principal Wayne Wood said that about 95 percent of parents gave consent for their children to take antibiotics.
“Of course, we respect the choice of parents who didn’t want to participate,” he said on Friday.
Queensland Health issued a public health alert about the cases on Thursday.
The rollout of antibiotics aims to kill the bacteria that cause meningococcal, which forms in the back of a person’s throat or nose.
“Bacteria can be spread through droplets from the nose or throat during close contact such as coughing and sneezing or kissing,” Richard Geier, director of Tropical Public Health Services, said in the alert.
Symptoms include rash, vomiting, fever, headache, joint pain and confusion.
Anyone experiencing meningococcal-like symptoms is urged to see a GP immediately.
