Baby dies from suspected case of meningococcal

A six-month-old baby from regional South Australia has died from a suspected case of invasive meningococcal.

SA Health offered their "sincere condolences" as they try to determine what strain of the disease the boy was suffering.

"SA Health is currently in the process of confirming the cause of death,' the department said in a statement.

"We have also identified a number of people who had contact with the boy and will direct them to receive clearance antibiotics."

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If confirmed it will be the fifth case of meningococcal disease this year.

It comes after the federal government has been accused of failing families by not providing free meningococcal vaccines to children under five.

A spike in deaths has prompted worried parents to pay over $100 for the jab in a bid to protect their babies.