funal meningitis in Massachusetts injection

The Centers for Disease Control announced that two more people have died and an additional 13 people have been diagnosed with fungal meningitis in the United States.

For Massachusetts residents, how many cases of fungal meningitis in Massachusetts?

As of yet, this has not been definitively determined. However seeing how the death toll is rising, with a total of 23 so far, its just a matter of time before a true case of fungal meningitis in Massachusetts related to this outbreak is definitively diagnosed.

For Rhode Island, its just a matter of time as well.

The fungal meningitis outbreak has reached 284 cases so far and has included 23 deaths. Most of the victims received injectable steroid shots for the treatment of back pain.

Doctors say early treatment is extremely important if you feel that you might have been affected by this unprecedented outbreak.

The fungal meningitis outbreak was first reported on September 21, 2012, and since then hundreds of new fungal meningitis cases have been discovered. It’s now widely reported that it’s one of the largest outbreaks of this kind of infection in history.

Unsuspecting victims are now taking action to not only recognize and treat symptoms, but also to take potential personal injury litigation action as well.

Fungal Meningitis in Massachusetts: Are You Safe?

As has been reported widely in the news, the cases of fungal meningitis are the result of medicine compounded by the New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Massachusetts. Most of the positively identified cases are caused by Exserohilum rostratum. The fungus is commonly found in the environment, but up until this recent mishap it has never been observed as a cause of meningitis.

People in 15 states have been affected and the number of fungal meningitis cases in Massachusetts victims has yet to be determined.

Up until now, there have been two cases of fungal meningitis in New Hampshire, so the New England states have already been affected.

It’s widely believed that as many as 14,000 people may have received injections, most of them injected with methylprednisolone acetate, which is a steroid drug often used for back pain.

In Massachusetts fungal meningitis is rare and is the result of fungus that gets through to the spinal cord though the blood. Usually it’s people with weak immune systems that contract fungal meningitis in Massachusetts, with a handful of cases each year.

Fungal meningitis is not contagious but if you are infected the treatment is extremely high doses of antifungal medications, which are usually administered in a hospital setting.

However in this case the fungal meningitis was the result of a negligent pharmacy in Framingham, Massachusetts.

What Should You Do If You Have Fungal Meningitis in Massachusetts?

If you suspect that you have been a victim of fungal meningitis in Massachusetts, signs and symptoms may include: fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, confusion and an altered mental status.

If you or anyone you know has been or is suspected of being infected with fungal meningitis in Massachusetts or Rhode Island, first seek medical attention. After your full medical evaluation, consider seeking the counsel of a personal injury lawyer who is familiar with personal injury law related to medical malpractice and fungal meningitis.