Meningitis wave Contaminated other drugs?

200 people infected, 15 people killed: Did any other medicines trigger the meningitis wave??

16/10/2012

The US authorities said that the meningitis epidemic, with a total of 15 deaths so far, has been caused not only by a fungal-contaminated drug. Rather, two other drugs are suspected to be responsible for the meningitis.

Two other agents identified as causative
According to information from the US authorities, two other drugs may be responsible for the wave of infections in the United States. „We have identified two other potential drugs as the cause“, such a spokesman for the Food and Drug Supervision FDA on Monday. „Two patients are suffering from meningitis during heart surgery“. The infection took place after the injection of a muscle pacemaker, according to the FDA.

Funds come from the same pharmaceutical manufacturer
Another patient was also suffering from meningitis following the administration of steroids, which were also given intravenously. It is striking that both drugs are also from the pharmaceutical manufacturer NECC. Nevertheless, the FDA spokesman for the administration emphasized that at this time no direct context between the administered injections and meningitis can be confirmed.

15 fatalities so far
„Currently, the investigations are in full swing“, the FDA said. To date, over 200 patients have had meningitis in the United States in conjunction with contaminated steroid injections. At least 15 people died of meningitis.

The mushroom-infested drugs were produced by the pharmaceutical company NECC in Massachusetts. After becoming aware of the meningitis wave, the company recalled all doses of the remedy. In addition, the entire production was discontinued and the license returned.

Symptoms of meningitis are similar to viral flu in the early stages. Patients suffer from headaches, body aches and later stiff neck, fever and severe fatigue. Meningitis affects the cerebral and spinal membranes as well as the sheaths of the central nervous system. The infectious disease can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms. Basically, the disease is life threatening. The affected patients in the US are currently receiving an intravenous therapy that works against the pathogen. (Sb)

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