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Meningitis Outbreak Kills 12, Sickens 121

Agnus Dei Farrant |
October 9, 2012 | 10:16 p.m. PDT

Executive Producer

(Creative Commons).
(Creative Commons).
Two more people in Tennessee died from the nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak and one more in Michigan after receiving steroid injections, Reuters reported, bringing the number of deaths nationwide to 12. 

The number of people sickened nationwide was 121 on Tuesday, Reuters reported. About 13,000 people may have been exposed through steroid medication injections. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), patients show symptoms 1-4 weeks after injection. Symptoms include fever; new or worsening headache; neck stiffness; sensitivity to light; new weakness or numbness; and increasing pain, redness or swelling of the injection site. 

The CDC describes fungal meningitis occurring when the protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord are infected with a fungus. 

The recalled steroids were produced by New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Mass., and shipped to 76 facilities in 23 states. The injections were given starting May 21. 

Tennessee was the hardest hit state with six deaths and 39 cases of meningitis. Michigan experienced three deaths and 25 cases, Virginia had one death and 24 cases, Maryland had one death and eight cases, according to Reuters. 

Indiana had 12 cases, Florida had six cases, Minnesota had three cases, North Carolina had two cases, and Ohio and New Jersey both had one case. 

 

Reach Executive Producer Agnus Dei Farrant here.



 

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