A second person has been infected with meningococcal in Darwin just days after a baby was killed by the disease.
An adult admitted to Royal Darwin Hospital on Tuesday evening has tested positive for the life-threatening illness, Northern Territory health authorities say.
The NT Centre for Disease Control has established that this case has no connection either to the infant's death or the unprecedented outbreak in Central Australia.
CDC Community Physician Dr Charles Douglas urged individuals and parents not to be alarmed but told them to remain vigilant.
"Meningococcal is difficult to contract; it is not like the common cold or flu," he said.
"There must be prolonged contact with someone who is infected."
The child, who died fewer than 12 hours after showing meningococcal symptoms over the weekend, had contracted the B strain of the disease in what CDC has named an isolated incident.
Relatives and children in close contact at the infant's day care centre have been offered clearance antibiotics and vaccines.
"At this time of extreme sadness, the Darwin family of the child who died have asked that their privacy be respected," the Health Department said in a statement.
So far this year there's been 27 cases of the W strain identified in remote communities from the Barkly, Katherine and Red Centre region.
In 2016 there were only three.
The majority of sufferers were Aboriginal kids aged under 10, and the NT government has launched a large scale immunisation campaign in response.
Meningococcal is a rare but very serious disease, and although it is treatable with antibiotics, the infection can progress very quickly.
Symptoms may include fever, headache, neck stiffness, an aversion to bright lights, a rash and joint pain.
Those affected may also have vomiting, diarrhoea, and drowsiness.
Babies may refuse food and drink and have a high pitched cry.
