Michigan's Fungal Meningitis Case Count Up To 44
LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Authorities are reporting 44 Michigan cases of fungal meningitis in the national outbreak, along with four non-meningitis infection cases related to the same contaminated steroids.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday's Michigan count of 48 total infections was up by 20 from one week earlier.
Michigan's death toll remains at four, including the death of a Cass County woman whose meningitis was linked to treatments for back pain across the state border at an Indiana clinic. Her case is included in Indiana's count.
A steroid made by a Massachusetts pharmacy has been tied to a national outbreak of the rare fungal form of meningitis. It has killed 19 people nationwide.
Four Michigan facilities received shipments of these recalled lots and are working with MDCH to identify and notify patients who may have received this product and be at risk for developing illness. The facilities are:
- Michigan Neurosurgical Institutes in Grand Blanc
- Michigan Pain Specialists in Brighton
- Neuromuscular and Rehabilitation in Traverse City
- Southeast Michigan Surgical Hospital in Warren
People who got the shots between July and September could be at risk.
Fungal meningitis is not transmitted person-to-person. Infected patients have presented approximately one to four weeks following their injection with a variety of symptoms including fever, new or worsening headache, nausea, and other symptoms consistent with a stroke. Some of these patients' symptoms were very mild in nature.
Any individual who received an epidural steroid injection or steroid injection into a joint at one of the four Michigan facilities and is experiencing symptoms consistent with fungal meningitis or a stroke should immediately contact their physician or seek medical attention.
Additional information about the investigation can be found at this link.
More resources:
CDC meningitis outbreak map
Michigan Department of Community Health meningitis info
(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
