Two New Fungal Meningitis Cases Confirmed
Contact: DOH Office of Communications
(850) 245-4111
For the General Public:
Toll-Free Hotline, 1-866-523-7339
TWO NEW FUNGAL MENINGITIS CASES CONFIRMED
~Florida cases of fungal meningitis increases~
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Health (DOH) today has confirmed two more cases of fungal meningitis associated with contaminated steroid injections of NECC products. Both individuals were injected with one of the contaminated lots of New England Compounding Center (NECC) methylprednisolone acetate used for epidural back injections.
The two new patients are a 74 year old woman who received treatment from the Florida Pain Clinic in Marion County and a 79 year old woman who received treatment from Pain Consultants of West Florida in Escambia County. These cases bring the total fungal meningitis case count in Florida to 12, including two deaths.
“The Florida Department of Health continues to investigate this outbreak using guidance from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. “Our current priority is to ensure that contact is made with any patient who received an injection with the contaminated medications, and we will not rest until the job is done.”
Nationwide, the number of cases of fungal meningitis related to contaminated steroid injections is 214 with 15 deaths across 15 states. This fungal meningitis is not contagious and cannot be passed from person to person.
DOH will continue to update our websites at http://newsroom.doh.state.fl.us/ or http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/. We have set up a toll-free hotline at 1-866-523-7339 for those who may have additional questions.
The Department works to protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.
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