In northern Tasmania, an eight-year-old girl has been detected with a case of meningococcal sickness.

The Director of Public Health, Dr. Roscoe Taylor, says that the girl was taken to the Launceston General Hospital at the weekend and examinations prove that she suffers from a Group B meningococcal contagion.

Dr. Taylor says that her state is acceptable and she is recuperating well.

He says that it is extremely improbable that there will be more instances at the girl's school at Hagley and parents are asked to send their kids to school as usual when classes recommence from next Tuesday.

He said that their normal suggestion for parents is to look out for signs and to get in touch with their physician right away, if they have any doubts.

He remarked that symptoms might comprise muscle pains, headaches, stiffness in neck, fever, sleepiness, queasiness and skin reaction.

He said, "Cases of Group C infection have decreased dramatically in Tasmania since the introduction of a routine vaccine at 12 months of age in 2003 but this is a Group B infection which is not covered by the meningococcal C vaccine and is a reminder that the disease can still occur".

In Tasmania, this is only the third meningococcal instance this year.