Two cases of meningococcal meningitis in Dunedin
Otago and Southland
In March 2026, the National Public Health Service in Southern was notified of two cases of meningococcal meningitis in Dunedin.
Close contacts have been identified and offered antibiotic and vaccination protection.
The National Public Health Service has worked closely with the tertiary education facilities the cases attend and determined that the risk of meningococcal disease in the community or among other students and staff remains low, as the infection is only passed on when people have close or prolonged contact* with a case.
Meningococcal disease is caused by a bacterial infection and can lead to death or permanent disability, such as deafness. There are several strains of meningococcal bacteria. The most common one in New Zealand is meningococcal B.
The MenACWY and MenB vaccines are free for ages 13 to 25 years old in their first year of close living situations. Close living situations include:
- boarding school hostels
- tertiary education halls of residence
- military barracks
- youth justice facilities
- prisons.
Close living situations do not include flatting or other group living situations.
Close or prolonged contact is:
- those sleeping at least one night in the same household, dormitory, military barrack, student hostel bunkroom (not residents of nursing or residential homes who sleep in separate rooms) as the case
- those who have been in a seat adjacent to the case in a plane, bus or train for more than 8 hours.
You can also be immunised against other strains.