A meningitis outbreak has been the leading news story for the past few weeks as more and more people have become infected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that over 14,000 patients in 23 states have been injected with tainted pain relief medication that has caused an outbreak of a rare fungal meningitis. The outbreak has been linked to epidural steroid treatments for back pain. As of October 22, 2012, the CDC has stated that the outbreak has caused 282 cases of fungal meningitis with a total of 23 deaths.
Meningitis is a bacterial infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Common meningitis symptoms include: fever, chills, mental status changes, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity. If you have had an injection and suffer with these symptoms, seek medical help immediately.
The source of the tainted treatment is The New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Massachusetts, where the company manufactured and sold the treatment. To date, Tennesseehas the most confirmed cases, with sixty-nine. However, healthcare facilities throughout the southeast have received some of the tainted treatments. These states include Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
Although there have been no confirmed cases of the outbreak in Alabama, Mississippi, or Louisiana, those who have received an epidural steroid treatment for back pain is urged by the CDC to remain vigilant for any new or worsening symptoms. If you or someone you know has had an epidural steroid injection in the back and has any meningitis symptoms, seek treatment immediately.
Any person who has been infected with the tainted supply may have a personal injury claim. Please consult with an experienced personal injury attorney if you or someone you know has suffered any injury from this outbreak.
