The FDA and CDC are investigating an ongoing outbreak of fungal meningitis that has affected 47 people in 7 states.
It is important to note that this particular form of meningitis is not contagious, unlike bacterial meningitis and viral meningitis. So how did the people get it then?
These cases are thought to be associated with three lots of methylprednisolone acetate that were prepared by the New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Massachusetts, which may be contaminated, were distributed to 75 healthcare facilities in 23 states (mostly surgery centers and pain management clinics), and were injected in and around the affected patient's spinal cord (intrathecal administration).
Be sure to call your doctor if you have had one of these injections at one of these facilities since July 2012 and have any symptoms, such as:
- Worsening headache
- Fever
- Sensitivity to light
- Stiff neck
- New weakness or numbness in any part of your body
- Slurred speech
If your child simply had a spinal tap to evaluate if he had meningitis or for some other reason, then this fungal meningitis alert does not apply to him.
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CDC - Multistate Meningitis Outbreak Investigation
FDA Statement on Fungal Meningitis Outbreak
FDA Q&A on Fungal Meningitis Outbreak
