Pneumococcal diseases on the rise in Australia

In Australia, a significant number of children under the age of two have been diagnosed with pneumococcal disease, an infectious condition caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium. The bacterium is associated with a wide spectrum of illnesses, encompassing lung, ear and sinus infections, meningitis, and bacteremia, which refers to a type of bloodstream infection. Children are at the highest risk of both contracting the infections and suffering from complications they cause, with Australian authorities concerningly noting that thousands of youngsters aged under two are currently suffering from infections. Approximately 4,500 cases of pneumococcal disease have been reported since the start of 2023, a more than 20-year high. Despite the availability of two types of pneumococcal vaccine, the Immunisation Foundation of Australia (IFA) has expressed concern that the development of new vaccinations against deadly strains of the bacteria is necessary to contain the risk of new infections among children. The IFA also issued a warning that the situation could deteriorate further.