Health experts are urging thousands of teenagers to exercise caution at Schoolies this year due to a potentially deadly bacterial outbreak.
More than 100 cases of meningococcal disease, which has the potential to kill people of all ages, including teenagers, have been detected in 2025.
In Queensland alone there have been 22 cases reported this year and there are fears it could spread throughout the tens of thousands of teenagers attending Schoolies.
The disease is a fast-moving bacterial infection which can progress in just a couple of hours and has the potential to turn deadly in a day.
It spreads through close contact and can lead to meningitis, which is an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
Meningococcal disease can also transition into blood poisoning called septicaemia.
In up to 10 per cent of cases, the disease can be fatal within 24 to 48 hours, and one in five survivors faces permanent disabilities.
These include brain injury or limb loss.
Schoolies have been warned about the dangers of a deadly virus
More than 100 cases of meningococcal disease have been detected in 2025
Gold Coast University Hospital infectious disease specialist Dr Peter Simos warned teens to be extremely careful and vigilant due to the danger posed.
‘Meningococcal disease can progress rapidly, and every second without treatment risks irreversible damage,’ Dr Simos told news.com.au.
‘The concern during Schoolies is that teens may dismiss early flu-like symptoms. I encourage anyone feeling unwell, even if in doubt, to seek medical help. Don’t leave it too late.’
Early symptoms of meningococcal disease include vomiting, sensitivity to light, headache, confusion, drowsiness, loss of appetite, fever, stiff neck, joint pain, nausea and fatigue.
A rash is one of the easiest ways to spot the infection but a rash can appear late or not at all.
Experts warn anyone who might be infected to be extra careful as these early symptoms can be subtle and mistaken for other illnesses or a hangover.
Smoking cigarettes nearly doubles the likelihood of carrying the bacteria, an Australian study of more than 24,000 students found.
Attending pubs, clubs and kissing also considerably increases the chances of transmission.
As many as one in four 19-year-olds carry the disease as well as one in 20 infants.
Experts have asked anyone attending Schoolies to make sure they stay sharp and on the lookout for any symptoms emerging.
It could be the difference between life and death, they said.
