Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis Sickens 26

An outbreak of a rare, noncommunicable form of fungal meningitis has sickened 26 people in 5 states, killing 4, all of which had recently received steroid injections created by a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts to treat back pain and other ailments.

A Nashville clinic, which had recently received a large shipment of the steroid, is thought to be the source of the 18 cases in Tennessee.   Officially, the source of the infection has yet to be confirmed. 

The remaining cases are located in Virginia, Maryland, Florida and North Carolina, and health officials expect more cases to appear soon.   Federal health officials are still unsure whether new infections are continuing to occur, as most cases documented have occurred in the past 3 months. 

Incubation for the infection is between 2 and 28 days, officials said, as they continue to locate individuals who have received the injection. 

The maker of the steroid, New England Compounding Center, in Massachusetts, has issued a recall of 3 lots of the steroid, methylprednisolone acetate, and suspended operations. 

Rare US meningitis outbreak grows; 4 dead, 22 sick [press release].  Nashville, TN: Associated Press; October 4, 2012.

For more information on Fungal Meningitis, visit the CDC’s Meningitis homepage.

-Michael Potts