The second case of the disease in Northland this week

A second Northland baby has been admitted to hospital with meningococcal disease, which has in the past two weeks claimed the lives of a Bay of Plenty child and Fulton Hogan chief executive Bill Perry.

The one-year-old was taken to Whangarei Hospital last night in the second case of the disease in Northland this week, Northland District Health Board (DHB) medical officer of health Clair Mills said.

''It was extremely fortunate the parents of the child sought medical attention immediately as the laboratory has again confirmed meningococcal infection,'' Ms Mills said.

Another one-year-old with the disease was taken to the hospital on Monday night and later transferred to Starship Hospital in Auckland.

Northland DHB's public health unit was identifying close contacts of the child but there appeared to be no obvious links between the two cases, she said.

Close contacts of the baby were being offered advice and preventive treatment.

On Saturday a child died from meningococcal disease in Rotorua Hospital and one week earlier Fulton Hogan chief executive Bill Perry, 49, died suddenly in Christchurch.

Following Mr Perry's death three people - including one who was in a meeting with him - were hospitalised with the type-C strain of the disease.

Symptoms in babies and young children can include fever, irritability, sleepiness, floppiness, difficulty waking up, refusal to eat or drink, vomiting and skin rash. Adults can have similar symptoms and may also have a stiff neck, headache and sensitivity to lights.

Dr Mills said it could occur at any age, but was most common in children under five.

''Anyone with some of these symptoms should seek medical attention without delay as early treatment is very important,'' she said.

The meningococcus bacteria are normally present in the nose and throat of 10-20 per cent of the population and are frequently passed from person to person without causing harm.

On rare occasions they may penetrate the body defences to cause an ''invasive'' life threatening illness. This can usually be treated successfully with antibiotics if the condition is diagnosed early.