More People Affected With Rare Meningitis

The number of people affected with a rare form of meningitis has gone up.

Published

8 months ago

Categories

US, Health

Topics

Disease & Health Conditions, United States

Places

United States of America

Transcript

EDIT CONTAINS 4:3 MATERIAL Medicine from a drug company in Massachusetts has been linked to at least 47 cases of fungal meningitis in the US, officials said Friday. At least five people have died so far from the disease after getting steroid shots -- usually for back pain-- with medicine made here. Infected patients have shown symptoms from one to four weeks after receiving the injections. (SOUNDBITE)(English) DR. MADELEINE BIONDOLILLO, THE MASSACHUSETTS BUREAU OF HEALTHCARE SAFETY DIRECTOR, SAYING: "If you are a patient who has received a spinal steroid injection and are experiencing symptoms such as new or worsening headache, fever, neck stiffness, or pain at the injection site, please contact your physician to determine if you have received one of the recalled products and to receive further evaluation." The potentially tainted batch of drugs was shipped to facilities in 23 states and could have been given to thousands of people. The drug company has suspended its operations while the investigation is ongoing.