Injury Law Blog

The current national outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to a spinal injection with a contaminated steroid produced by the New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Massachusetts has recently been commented on by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP).  The CDCP is suggesting that those that may be infected by the injection within the past six weeks but have no symptoms follow two options:

1.    The first option is to keep watch for symptoms (e.g., headaches, stiff neck, dizziness, fever and sensitivity to light) and to perform a spinal tap if they occur.
2.    The second option is to perform the spinal tap even if there are no symptoms present.
The CDCP went on to further note that spinal taps are NOT RISK-FREE.  There is a remote chance that someone who was injected with the contaminated drug may transfer the infection to the spine via the spinal needle.  In other words, directly infecting the patient with meningitis by way of a test meant to detect a meningitis infection.  Another side effect of spinal taps is headaches, which is one of the symptoms of meningitis.  

As of the writing of this blog, Florida has seen its twenty-third case of meningitis allegedly brought on by an infected injection.  Of those 23 people infected in Florida, three have died as a result.  There have been a reported 340 reported cases nationwide in 18 states.    

If you have any questions or concerns about this outbreak, legal or otherwise, give us a call, and we will lead you in the right direction. www.labovick.com