A 13-year-old boy died of meningococcal disease in Wellington today, and two other probable cases of the disease were reported to health officials in the region.
Medical officer of health Stephen Palmer said it was "very unusual" to receive three notifications of meningococcal disease in one day.
The teenager was the fourthdeath from the disease in the Wellington this year, compared to one last year.
About three weeks ago the disease claimed the life of 22-year-old New Zealand women's cricket team member Frances King.
In June, Nileema Sharan, 25, was found dead in bed at her central Wellington from meningococcal disease. An inquest into her death is due to resume on October 8.
Dr Palmer said the two probable cases of the disease reported in Wellington today were teenage males, aged 16 and 17.
While more people had died from the disease in Wellington this year compared to 2002, the number of notifications was similar, he said.
So far this year 31 cases had been notified, compared with 30 at the same time last year.
"We are quite concerned that this year we are seeing more cases in the older age groups with just over two-thirds being older than 10 years. In previous years almost two-thirds of cases were under 10 years," Dr Palmer said.
Communicable disease public health nurses were identifying and tracing contacts of today's cases.
Close contacts would be offered antibiotics and more casual contacts would be provided with information on meningococcal disease.
