Meningitis Outbreak Spreading Like Wildfire
Roughly 14,000 patients in 23 states have been injected with a tainted pain-killing medication that is suspected of causing a nationwide outbreak of rare fungal meningitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
To date, 14 people have died and 155 more have been diagnosed with fungal meningitis following injection with a preservative-free version of the steroid methylprednilosone acetate. The drug, which was produced at the New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Mass., has been recalled and the company has ceased operations.
The CDC cautioned that patients should be vigilant for several months if they received one of the injections. There could be 111 more patients needing testing who were not on the original list of those at risk, they said. More than 50 vials of the steroid, out of more than 17,000, had so far been confirmed as contaminated with more tests under way, health authorities said.
According to the CDC, the steroid was distributed to these states:
- California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, and West Virginia
Recalled Lot Numbers:
- Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #05212012@68, BUD 11/17/2012
- Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #06292012@26, BUD 12/26/2012
- Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #08102012@51, BUD 2/6/2013
It is critical for local residents to understand the warning signs so that emergency steps can be taken if necessary. Doctors note that the symptoms of fungal meningitis are similar to those seen in other forms of meningitis – including fever, new or worsening headaches, back pain, nausea and neurological problems similar to those exhibited by stroke victims – though it may be slower to develop than those caused by other pathogens. Though the symptoms may be mild at first, the long-term outcomes can be just as serious as other forms of the condition.
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Our partners and staff available to help all those affected by this situation protect their legal rights. It is critical that those affected have access to the resources they need to recover fully and compensate them for their losses.
