A Dunedin baby had made a "full recovery" from meningococcal disease in Dunedin Hospital and was back at home, Public Health South medical officer of health Dr Marion Poore said.
An "error" had initially linked the baby to three adult cases of meningococcal C which have surprised health authorities.
The disease usually hits children and teenagers. The baby had the more unusual W135 strain.
The baby's infection was not linked in any way to the other cases, including Fulton Hogan chief executive Bill Perry (48), who died on Saturday in Christchurch Hospital.
Dr Poore said the baby benefited from early diagnosis and prompt treatment and was able to make a rapid recovery.
She did not know how many nights the baby spent in hospital, its gender, or age.
A Dunedin Fulton Hogan employee was making a good recovery in Dunedin Hospital with septicemia caused by meningococcal C, Dr Poore said.
The Canterbury District Health Board yesterday issued a press release confirming a third person, a woman in her 40s, was recovering in Christchurch Hospital. Her case was not linked to the Fulton Hogan cases.
Canterbury DHB medical officer of health Dr Alistair Humphrey did not believe there was a need for a vaccination programme against meningococcal disease.
"If people have further concerns, they should discuss these with their family doctor.
"Meningococcal disease is not easily transmitted from person to person. It's transmitted only by close personal contact that allows bacteria to pass from the nose and throat of one person to another."
Health authorities had treated "close contacts" of the cases with a short course of antibiotics to reduce the risk of developing the disease, Dr Humphrey said.
Dr Poore said a vaccine combining A, C, W135, and Y was available on a voluntary basis, but was not part of the immunisation schedule. It was funded only for high-risk groups.
Fulton Hogan managing director Nick Miller said he had spoken to the Dunedin Fulton Hogan employee, who was "stable" and recovering in Dunedin Hospital.
Mr Miller said the man, who was aged in his 50s, was told yesterday he would need to spend another two or three days in hospital.
Fulton Hogan was coping with the tragic loss of its "larger than life" chief executive, Mr Perry.
The Dunedin employee had attended meetings in Christchurch last Wednesday and Auckland on Thursday. Mr Perry was present at both.
University of Otago (Wellington) infectious diseases specialist Associate Prof Michael Baker said the incidence of C strain "bounced" up and down, but overall was not rising. It behaved differently from other strains in that it tended to appear in small, tight clusters. The epidemic B strain, the incidence of which had waned, behaved more like a slowly rising wave, he said.
It was unclear whether the meningococcal B vaccination programme between 2004 and 2008 was continuing to keep the epidemic at bay or if it had naturally waned.
Prof Baker believed a vaccine would eventually be offered combining B, C and other strains, at which time it would probably be added to the immunisation schedule.
Mr Perry's death was a reminder the disease could kill people of "any age or standing".
With a 5% fatality rate for all meningococcal strains, New Zealand was one of the "best places in the world" to get the disease because doctors were familiar with it. He hoped the recent publicity would alert parents to be vigilant for symptoms, as early detection was key to survival and a full recovery.
Last year, 96 cases of meningococcal disease were notified in New Zealand, 84 were confirmed, and six cases were fatal.
Of the confirmed cases, B-epidemic was the most common strain, accounting for 25 cases. C strain accounted for 22 cases and W135 for six.
Invercargill teenager Sara Loo died last July in Auckland after a two-month fight with meningococcal septicemia C.
