FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — The pharmacy that distributed a steroid linked to an outbreak of fungal meningitis has issued a voluntary recall of all of its products, calling the move a precautionary measure.
The New England Compounding Center announced the recall Saturday. The company said in a news release that the move was taken out of an abundance of caution because of the risk of contamination. Inspectors found at least one sealed vial that was contaminated, but it’s not yet clear how the fungus got into the steroid. The company says there is no indication that any other products have been contaminated.
Two more meningitis cases were reported in Florida over the weekend, bringing the total number in the state to four. All the cases were reported in Marion County in North Florida and come from the same source — the Marion Pain Management Center in Ocala — said Hue Reynolds, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Health.
The first two reported cases were an 87-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman. The additional cases were both men, one 83 years old and the other 81. TheyBoth men of these most recent casesBoth men of these most recent cases are still being treated at a hospital, Reynolds said.
The Food and Drug Administration had previously told health professionals not to use any products distributed by the center.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted updated figures to its website Sunday showing there are now more than 90 confirmed cases of the rare form of fungal meningitis.
The outbreak spans nine states and has killed at least seven people.
The states with reported cases are Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia.
The steroid linked to the outbreak had already been recalled, and health officials have been scrambling to notify anyone who may have received an injection of it. The New England Compounding Center Massachusetts pharmacy that made itMassachusetts pharmacy that made it has said it is cooperating with investigators.
The Palm Beach County Department of Health was alerted last week to check on the disposition of one shipment from the Massachusetts pharmacy. They determined the shipment was not opened and, no one had beenwas injected with the medicine, which was returned and it was sent back to the pharmacy.
Details regarding what office or clinic had received the shipment were not available Sunday.
People who suspect they had this product — injections to the spine — had this product — – injections to the spine —– were injected with the product should check with the physician, hospital or clinic to verify it was not this product to verify it was not this product, the department said.
So far, the government has identified about 75 facilities in 23 states that received the recalled doses.
It is not yet known exactly how many people may have been affected, though it could affect hundreds or even thousands of people who received the steroid injections for back pain from July to September.
Meningitis is caused by the inflammation of the meninges, which are protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Unlike its more common viral and bacterial counterparts, fFungal meningitis is not contagious like its more common viral and bacterial counterparts like its more common viral and bacterial counterparts.
Post staff writers Cynthia Roldan and Sonja Isger contributed to this story.
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