MICHIGAN-
On Sunday, the Center for Disease Control announced 20 cases of meningitis in Michigan alone. That number has more than doubled in the past day or so.
Nationwide, as of October 7, 91 cases and seven deaths related to the injections have been reported in nine states. As the investigation continues, the number of cases is expected to increase.
On Saturday, the Center for Disease Control announced two people from Michigan have died after contracting fungal meningitis. Four facilities in Michigan have been linked to a steroid medication believe to be responsible.
The four linked to the medication are Neurosurgical Institute in Grand Blanc, Michigan Pain Specialists in Brighton, Neuromuscular and Rehabilitation in Traverse City and Southeast Michigan Surgical Hospital in Warren.
The company making the injection, New England Compounding Center (NECC) stopped production on October 3 and initiated a recall of all methylprednisolone acetate and other drug products prepared for injection into the membrane surrounding the brain or spinal cord.
Although all cases detected to date occurred after injections with products from these three lots, out of an abundance of caution, the CDC and FDA recommend that healthcare professionals cease use of any product produced by the NECC until further information is available.
Angela Miniuci, spokesperson for the Department of Community Health, says that the medication would have been distributed between July and October of 2012, and was administered by epidural injection. Symptoms of the illness include headache, fever, stiff neck, sensitivity to light or stroke-like symptoms.
Anyone having visited the facilities in the time period given and experiencing symptoms is advised to call a doctor immediately.
