A baby has been admitted to a Hunter hospital with a confirmed case of meningococcal disease.
The infant is in a serious but stable condition, and those close to the baby have been prescribed clearance antibiotics.
Health officials say there are no links between this case and any previous ones.
Meningococcal is spread by secretions from the nose and throat of a person with the disease, and close and prolonged contact is needed to pass it on.
In 2015, there were nine confirmed cases of meningococcal in the Hunter New England health district.
Early symptoms include pain in the legs, cold hands and feet, and abnormal skin colour, leading to a high fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, a rash of reddish-purple spots and drowsiness.
Early detection and treatment can result in a complete recovery.
