Baby treated for meningococcal disease

An 11-month old baby is the fifth confirmed case of meningococcal disease on the New South Wales north coast this year.

The area health service says the baby from the Coffs Harbour area was diagnosed with the illness last weekend.

The child responded well to treatment and was taken home from hospital yesterday.

People who had been in close contact with the child have been treated with antibiotics.

The area health service says early identification and treatment of meningococcal disease is vital and most cases lead to a full recovery, although in some cases the illness can prove fatal.