Hunter New England Health said this was the fifth case of the disease in the region this year. 

Close contacts of the woman are being prescribed clearance antibiotics.

Symptoms can include leg pain, cold hands and abnormal skin colour, followed by fever, headache, neck stiffness, nausea and a reddish-purple rash.

Babies with the infection can be irritable, not feed properly and have an abnormal cry. 

Public health physician David Durrheim said the infection did not spread easily.

“It is spread by secretions from the nose and throat of a person who is carrying it and close and prolonged contact is needed to pass it on,” he said.

“It does not appear to be spread through saliva or by sharing drinks, food or cigarettes.

Dr Durrheim stressed that while meningococcal disease could be serious, in most cases, early detection and treatment resulted in a complete recovery.

The meningococcal C vaccine is recommended for all babies at 12 months of age. 

In 2015 there were nine confirmed cases of meningococcal disease in the Hunter New England local health district. 

There were 11 confirmed cases in 2014, 11 confirmed cases in 2013, nine in 2012, 15 in 2011 and 13 in 2010.