Eight cases of deadly meningococcal disease have been reported in the past month in NSW - three of them linked to the same Sydney high school formal.
NSW Health communicable diseases director Dr Jeremy McAnulty said a spike in cases in November was not normal but could be explained.
"Although this nasty infection is most common during winter and spring, in some years we see an increase in cases around the Christmas/New Year party season, presumably because of the increase in close mixing of young people," Dr McAnulty said in a statement.
"Eight cases of meningococcal disease were reported in the last month.
"Three of these were associated with a high school end-of-year formal in Sydney. The remaining cases were unrelated."
A NSW Health spokeswoman told AAP another two cases had been reported in December.
Four of the 89 people who contracted the illness in 2009 died.
However, Dr McAnulty said most people who contract meningococcal make a full recovery but the disease can strike quickly and be fatal.
Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that causes either meningitis - an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord - or septicaemia, which is blood poisoning.
Most cases occur in infants, teenagers and young adults, but people of any age group can develop the disease.
Initial symptoms may include leg pain, cold hands and feet and abnormal skin colour.
Later symptoms may include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, dislike of bright lights, nausea and vomiting, a blotchy purple-red rash and drowsiness.
"If anyone develops meningococcal symptoms, it is vital they seek medical treatment immediately and start appropriate antibiotic treatment if the doctor diagnoses possible meningococcal disease", Dr McAnulty said.
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