Fungal Meningitis Outbreak: 91 Cases; 7 Deaths

Native News Network Staff in Native Health. Discussion »

ATLANTA – The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday updated the breakout of fungal meningitis that has now hit 91 cases in nine states. The disease has caused seven deaths.

Persons with Meningitis Linked to Epidural Steroid Injections, by State

To date, the nine states impacted are: Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia.

Fungal meningitis occurs when the protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord are infected with a fungus. Fungal meningitis can develop after a fungus spreads through the bloodstream from somewhere else in the body, as a result of the fungus being introduced directly into the central nervous system, or by direct extension from an infected body site next to the central nervous system, according to the CDC.

The CDC is coordinating a multistate investigation of meningitis among patients who received epidural steroid injections – medication injected into the spine. Several of these patients have had strokes related to the meningitis. In several patients, the meningitis was found to be caused by a fungus that is common in the environment but rarely causes meningitis.

The steroid of contaminated lots of methylprednisone acetate have been identified as have been made by compounding pharmacy, New England Compounding Center, NECC. The CDC now explains that only some of those sickened with meningitis was found to be caused by the identified fungus.

This form of meningitis is not contagious. Only those who have been injected with steroids are at risk.

posted October 8, 2012 6:00 am edt