U.S. meningitis cases hit 91
7 people die from infected steroid injection
The Associated Press
Posted: Oct 7, 2012 4:37 PM ET
Last Updated: Oct 7, 2012 4:36 PM ET
Related
External Links
(Note:CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)
The Minneapolis-St. Paul area Medical Advanced Pain Specialists (MAPS) pain clinics said of its four patients showed symptoms of the disease. (Jim Mone/Associated Press)U.S. health officials have announced another increase in the number of people affected by an outbreak of fungal meningitis as the pharmacy that distributed the steroid linked to the outbreak issued a voluntary recall of all of its products.
According to the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of cases is now up to 91. On Saturday, it was at 64. The number of people who have died is seven.
The breakdown of cases is as follows:
- Florida: 4 cases.
- Indiana: 8 cases.
- Maryland: 3 cases, including 1 death.
- Michigan: 20 cases, including 2 deaths.
- Minnesota: 3 cases.
- North Carolina: 2 cases.
- Ohio: 1 case.
- Tennessee: 32 cases, including 3 deaths.
- Virginia: 18 cases, including 1 death.
In another development, the New England Compounding Center announced the recall of every one of its products late on Saturday. The company said there is no indication that any of its other products have been contaminated but it just wanted to take the action because of the risk of contamination.
The Food and Drug Administration had already warned doctors and clinics to stop using the steroid linked to the outbreak and health officials have been scrambling to notify anyone who may have received an injection of it. About 17,700 single-dose vials of the steroid were covered in the government recall.
It is not yet known exactly how many people may have been affected, though it could affect hundreds or even thousands of people who received the steroid injections for back pain from July to September.
Meningitis is caused by the inflammation of meninges, which are protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Fungal meningitis is not contagious like its more common viral and bacterial counterparts.
Authorities took the step to help identify everyone who may have gotten sick — or may still get sick — in the outbreak.
All the outbreak patients had gotten shots of the steroid for back pain, a common treatment, and inspectors found at least one sealed vial contaminated with fungus.
Share Tools
Top News Headlines
- Toronto mayor's brother says he never dealt drugs
- The brother of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has vehemently denied allegations in Saturday's Globe and Mail that he was involved in the illicit drug trade in the 1980s. more »
- Hockey Canada votes to ban bodychecking in peewee hockey
- Hockey Canada's board of directors voted to eliminate bodychecking from peewee-level hockey on Saturday in Charlottetown. more »
- Neil Macdonald: How serious is Obama about curbing the drone surge?
- In a key speech this week, the U.S. president set out a host of supposed new safeguards for America's controversial practice of remote-controlled rough justice. But as Neil Macdonald writes, the underlying rationale for drone use has not fundamentally changed. more »
- Ontario man lost in Australian mountains has survival skills
- The sister of an Ontario man who disappeared in Australia's Snowy Mountains nearly two weeks ago says she remains hopeful he will be found, partly because of his training as a Canadian Forces reservist. more »
Must Watch
Latest World News Headlines
- Canadian mine giant Barrick fined a record $16.4M in Chile
- Chile has fined Canadian gold mine giant Barrick $16.4 million, the highest environmental fine in the country's history, saying agency inspectors found the company hadn't told the full truth when it reported failures. more »
- Neil Macdonald: How serious is Obama about curbing the drone surge?
- In a key speech this week, the U.S. president set out a host of supposed new safeguards for America's controversial practice of remote-controlled rough justice. But as Neil Macdonald writes, the underlying rationale for drone use has not fundamentally changed. more »
- 16 children, 1 teacher dead in Pakistan bus fire
- Police say 16 schoolchildren and a teacher burned to death in eastern Pakistan early today when a short-circuit near a leaking gas tank caused their minibus to be engulfed in flames. more »
- 28 killed in suspected rebel attack in India
- About 200 suspected Maoist rebels set off a land mine and opened fire on a convoy of cars carrying local leaders and supporters of India's ruling Congress party in eastern India, killing at least 28 people, police said. more »
The National
The Current
- Is any work being done at Toronto City Hall? May. 24, 2013 4:29 PM Many people in Toronto worry Rob Ford's notoriety and chaos in the mayor's office may have lasting consequences for the city.
- Toronto mayor's brother says he never dealt drugs
- NYPD investigating Amanda Bynes sex assault allegations
- 3 more suspects arrested in slaying of U.K. soldier
- McDonald's CEO chastised by 9-year-old B.C. girl
- Dog snared on baited hooks near Vancouver's Grouse Grind trail
- Retired police officer killed in Mexico remembered as animal lover
- Ontario man lost in Australian mountains has survival skills
- Canadian mine giant Barrick fined a record $16.4M in Chile
- Black bear breaks into North Vancouver chicken coop
