USA meningitis wave with four more deaths

Contaminated drugs have already caused 19 meningitis deaths

10/18/2012

The meningitis wave in the US has claimed four more lives. Currently, the number of people affected by the injection of a drug contaminated with fungi is on the increase of life-threatening meningitis (meningitis).

Almost 250 patients with fungal meningitis (meningitis caused by fungal infection) were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by Tuesday. The number of deaths has increased to 19. The patients had received an analgesic injection into the spinal canal. The steroidal analgesic used by NECC of Massachusetts was apparently contaminated with fungi. These could then spread through the spinal fluid in the patient's organism and cause severe inflammation of the meninges.

So far, nineteen meningitis dead
The US Department of Health (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are working closely together to inform the current wave of meningitis and provide regular updates on the latest developments. On Tuesday, 14 more cases of meningitis and four new cases of meningitis were reported. The number of patients who had meningitis after injecting the NECC drug has thus increased to 245. Two more patients fell ill with less threatening arthritis due to injection, which are also listed in the CDC statistic. In total, 247 US citizens have already suffered significant health problems as a result of the contaminated painkillers. Nineteen patients have died due to the administration of the drug.

Further increase in meningitis disorders expected in the US
The US Department of Health now lists 15 states that reported cases of meningitis following injection of the analgesic into the spinal canal. Deaths have already been reported in six states. Almost all affected states are located on the east coast of the United States. Tennessee (eight meningitis deaths) has been reported by most deaths, followed by Florida (three meningitis deaths) and Michigan (three meningitis deaths). According to the experts, a total of around 34,000 patients received the contaminated drug, although only a maximum morbidity rate of five percent is assumed. According to the study, around 1,700 patients could contract fungal meningitis. Whether this figure is respected or possibly exceeded, is so far difficult to estimate, however, as the meningitis, according to the CDC only occurs one to four weeks after injection of the contaminated drug, sometimes even later.

Fungal meningitis not contagious
As a typical indication of meningitis, the US Department of Health CDC describes symptoms such as headache, fever, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting. In fungal meningitis may also be under circumstances „Symptoms such as confusion, dizziness and discomfort in bright lights“ to record, reports the CDC. All US citizens who notice such symptoms are encouraged to see a doctor. Also, on the part of the doctors should be thought with appropriate signs in any case, the possibility of fungal meningitis, reports the US Department of Health. The only positive news in connection with the current meningitis wave is that the meningitis caused by fungi can not be transmitted from person to person.

The first complaint has already been filed against the manufacturer of the contaminated drug and a search of the company premises followed. To what extent the scandal will continue, remains to be seen. (Fp)

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Picture: Gerd Altmann