Washtenaw County Death Is State's 5th In Meningitis Outbreak

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Authorities are reporting a fifth Michigan death in a national outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to contaminated steroids.

The Michigan Department of Community Health said Thursday that its death count has risen by one in the last day. Mlive.com reported the latest victim was a 62-year-old Washtenaw County man.

The state agency now reports 45 Michigan cases of fungal meningitis, plus four non-meningitis infection cases related to the same contaminated steroids.

Michigan's death toll stands at five, including the death of a Cass County woman whose meningitis was linked to treatments for back pain across the border at an Indiana clinic.

A steroid made by a Massachusetts pharmacy has been tied to the national outbreak.

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 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

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