ABC News Report On The Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Due To Steroid Injections

The death toll from the fungal meningitis outbreak is currently at 14.  According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention; 169 people in 11 states have contracted fungal meningitis after receiving spinal injections for back pain.  As many as 14,000 people (1,000) more than initially thought, received the tainted steroid injections manufactured by the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Massachusetts.

For a list of the clinics that received the tainted spinal steroid injections, click here.

Meningitis Symptoms:

Early signs of meningitis are very similar to flu symptoms.  Meningitis can be hard to distinguish from the flu at the initial onset.

Meningitis symptoms include, but are not limited to:

High Fever

Severe Headache

Stiff Neck

Vomiting / Nausea

Confusion

Difficulty Concentrating

Seizures

Difficulty Waking Up

Sensitivity To Light

Lack Of Interest In Drinking and/or Eating

Skin Rash

Meningitis Vaccination:

There is a vaccine approved for use in the United States to protect against meningococcal disease caused by a bacterium known as Neisseria meningitides.  Unfortunately, the illnesses prevented by this vaccine are different from the current outbreak of fungal meningitis caused by a steroid injection.

What Can I Do If I Had A Spinal Injection Recently?

First and foremost, contact your physician.  It is extremely important to seek medical help immediately.  Someone who has meningitis can become seriously ill very quickly.  Don’t hesitate, get help.