Two New Fungal Meningitis Cases Confirmed In Florida

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) – Two new cases of fungal meningitis has been confirmed in Florida.

The state's Department of Health reported that both of the cases were associated with contaminated steroid injections from the New England Compounding Center. One was a 74-year-old woman who received treatment from the Florida Pain Clinic in Marion County and the other was a 79-year-old woman who received treatment from Pain Consultants of West Florida in Escambia County.

These cases bring the total fungal meningitis case count in Florida to 12, including two deaths.

"Our current priority is to ensure that contact is made with any patient who received an injection with the contaminated medications, and we will not rest until the job is done," said the state's Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong.

Nationwide, the number of cases of fungal meningitis related to contaminated steroid injections is 214 with 15 deaths across 15 states.

This fungal meningitis is not contagious and cannot be passed from person to person.
As a precautionary measure, the FDA has expanded its recall to all injectable medications in use since May of this year.