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US - CDC reports 63 dead, 749 infected with fungal meningitis in 20 states (Update Aug 5, 2013)

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  • Re: US - 32 dead, 438 infected with fungal meningitis in 19 states

    Although we're past the 42 day window of highest risk, the case count is still increasing. The CDC had predicted additional cases but an increase of 23 new cases is significant. Still, without a more detailed breakout, there's no way for us to know if these additional cases are actually new, or were identified in a retrospective analysis. We also don't know how many, if any, are peripheral joint infections, and/or epidural abscesses.

    Today's CDC update does not include any changes to the Current Situation, or to the Clinician or Patient Guidance. There are no FDA updates on information about NECC, but the inspection report for its' sister company Ameridose has been posted on a separate FDA page (see thread here).

    • Status: Ongoing Investigation
    • Infection: Fungal
    • Facility Type: Outpatient Setting
    • Case Count: 461*
    • States: 19*
    • Deaths: 32*



    "What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it." - Herbert Simon

    "The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free government." - Sam Houston

    Comment


    • Re: US - 32 dead, 438 infected with fungal meningitis in 19 states

      Originally posted by cartski View Post
      So this was before a Committee, not a grand jury, or other prelimnary process. But can we still infer that criminal proceedings are likely?
      Here is a good 2 page article discussing the jurisdiction issues, etc:

      FDA Seeks More Authority Amid Meningitis Outbreak
      By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer
      WASHINGTON November 14, 2012 (AP)
      ...
      Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee spent most of the first hearing on the outbreak questioning state and federal regulators about why they didn't act sooner against the company.
      ...
      "I was stunned and angered to learn that an inspection of the NECC by the FDA and the Massachusetts board of pharmacy over 10 years ago identified contamination in the very same drug at issue in the current outbreak," said Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., who chairs the committee.
      ..
      Federal officials have opened a criminal investigation of Cadden and the NECC.
      ...
      The salvage of human life ought to be placed above barter and exchange ~ Louis Harris, 1918

      Comment


      • Re: US - 32 dead, 438 infected with fungal meningitis in 19 states

        [QUOTE=mixin;474557]Here is a good 2 page article discussing the jurisdiction issues, etc:

        FDA Seeks More Authority Amid Meningitis Outbreak
        By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer
        WASHINGTON November 14, 2012 (AP)
        ...
        QUOTE]

        Super, thanks.

        Pharmagate.

        J.

        Comment


        • Re: US - 32 dead, 461 infected with fungal meningitis in 19 states

          Today's CDC update lists an additional death in IN. No details on that are available as of yet.


          Status: Ongoing Investigation
          Infection: Fungal
          Facility Type: Outpatient Setting
          Case Count: 480*
          States: 19*
          Deaths: 33*

          There is an update to laboratory findings and that is noted on both the Current Situation and Clinician Guidance sections of the CDC website. The new findings will be posted to our thread, CDC - Laboratory Testing and Results from the Fungal Meningitis Outbreak. There have been no updates to Patient Guidance, or to any FDA information.



          Update to Current Situation:

          Multistate Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Investigation


          November 15, 2012 11:00 AM EST

          Current Situation


          About the Outbreak

          As of November 15, 2012, the predominant fungus identified in patients continues to be Exserohilum rostratum, with 84 CDC laboratory-confirmed cases. One patient, the index case, had a laboratory-confirmed Aspergillus fumigatus [JPG - 29 KB] infection. These fungi are common in the environment; fungal infections are not transmitted from person to person.
          Last edited by Catbird; November 16, 2012, 02:39 PM. Reason: add FDA note



          "What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it." - Herbert Simon

          "The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free government." - Sam Houston

          Comment


          • Re: US - 33 dead, 480 infected with fungal meningitis in 19 states

            Better late...


            Today's CDC update still shows an increased case count and an additional death in Michigan (although it may be counted in Indiana - still checking on this). But having only 10 new cases reported since Friday is almost good news.

            Status: Ongoing Investigation
            Infection: Fungal
            Facility Type: Outpatient Setting
            Case Count: 490*
            States: 19*
            Deaths: 34*

            There have been no updates to the FDA information, or to the Current Situation, Clinician or Patient Guidance.



            "What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it." - Herbert Simon

            "The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free government." - Sam Houston

            Comment


            • Re: US - 34 dead, 490 infected with fungal meningitis in 19 states

              http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/16/opinio...tis/index.html
              Deadly meningitis outbreak was completely avoidable
              By Michael Carome, Special to CNN
              updated 4:07 PM EDT, Tue October 16, 2012
              Editor's note: Dr. Michael Carome is deputy director of the Public Citizen's Health Research Group.

              (CNN) --
              [snip]
              A key player at the federal level deserving a significant amount of blame is the FDA.

              Loud alarm bells were sounded on December 4, 2006, when the FDA issued warning letters to the New England Compounding Center and four other compounding pharmacies, directing them to stop producing standardized versions of medications that, according to the agency, were being "marketed for general distribution rather than responding to the unique medical needs of individual patients." the center was cited for violations of FDA regulations in marketing four different drugs, including repackaged doses of the cancer drug Avastin into syringes for treatment of macular degeneration.

              News: Injectable drugs from Mass. facility suspect

              Clearly, the FDA considered the center and the other compounding pharmacies to be engaged in drug manufacturing. The pharmacies, like any other drug manufacturer, were therefore subject to the safety and effectiveness standards required for approval of new drugs, as well as the rigorous manufacturing standards designed to ensure that drugs are sterile and uncontaminated with such germs as bacteria or fungi before being sold and distributed.

              However, following its warning letter, the FDA subsequently dropped the ball and failed to take the actions necessary to ensure the center adhered to these drug standards, which are essential for protecting the health of patients. For whatever reason, whether inattentiveness or lack of compliance and legal resources, by not aggressively enforcing the regulations related to large-scale drug manufacturing and interstate commerce, the FDA allowed the company to shift its wide-scale manufacturing and interstate distribution operation to injectable steroids.

              On Thursday, the FDA attempted to deflect criticism for its failures by asserting that it lacked authority to take action earlier. This flies in the face of the agency's long-stated position that it had legal authority over such activities and its prior enforcement activities against the New England center and multiple other compounding pharmacies. While no one wants to be viewed as being responsible for a preventable public health catastrophe, American citizens should express their outrage and demand that all parties responsible for this tragedy -- including the FDA -- be held accountable.

              Otherwise history will repeat itself.
              _____________________________________________

              Ask Congress to Investigate COVID Origins and Government Response to Pandemic.

              i love myself. the quietest. simplest. most powerful. revolution ever. ---- nayyirah waheed

              "...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party

              (My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.)
              Never forget Excalibur.

              Comment


              • Re: US - 34 dead, 490 infected with fungal meningitis in 19 states

                Today's update from the CDC lists 2 additional deaths in IN and MI. This reflects the case of a MI resident who received contaminated injections in IN but died in MI.

                There have been no changes to the Current Situation, or Clinician or Patient Guidance. As of this afternoon, there is no updated information on the FDA website.


                Status: Ongoing Investigation
                Infection: Fungal
                Facility Type: Outpatient Setting
                Case Count: 510*
                States: 19*
                Deaths: 36*



                "What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it." - Herbert Simon

                "The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free government." - Sam Houston

                Comment


                • Re: US - 36 dead, 510 infected with fungal meningitis in 19 states

                  Patients say their cases ignored in meningitis outbreak

                  "After being treated with drugs from New England Compounding Center, 52-year-old Bret Moody was told he has fungal meningitis. He's infected with Aspergillus, the first contaminant found in a national outbreak of illness tied to tainted medication.

                  But when health officials count the nearly 500 people sickened by the moldy drugs, they don't include Moody and others like him who fail to match the profile of most victims.

                  ...Some got the spinal steroid, methylprednisolone acetate, blamed for the meningitis outbreak that has killed at least 34 nationwide. Some, like Moody, got other drugs from the Massachusetts firm. But if their symptoms are not already linked to the outbreak, they say, medical professionals aren't taking their illnesses seriously.

                  Health officials say they are watching closely and haven't yet confirmed any illnesses related to other drugs from New England Compounding or its sister company, Ameridose, both of which recalled all products amid sterility concerns.

                  Developments last week, however, indicate that the scope of the outbreak could be wider than previously believed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported finding a new batch of bacterial and fungal contaminants in drugs from New England Compounding. Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a surge in epidural abscesses and bone infections among patients treated with three suspect lots of methylprednisolone acetate. Previously, the dominant infection had been fungal meningitis.

                  Dr. Diana Zuckerman, president of the patient advocacy organization National Research Center for Women & Families, said she believes more illnesses caused by contaminated drugs may be under the radar.

                  "This is the tip of the iceberg," Zuckerman said...

                  ...The CDC has received "numerous reports of events following use of other NECC products, said agency spokesman Curtis Allen, but so far has not confirmed infections linked to those drugs.

                  Confirmation "is complicated and involves gathering clinical and epidemiological evidence of an association," he said..."



                  "What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it." - Herbert Simon

                  "The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free government." - Sam Houston

                  Comment


                  • Re: US - 36 dead, 510 infected with fungal meningitis in 19 states

                    KPFA WorkWeek Radio Breaks Story On Nationwide Fungal Menigitis Outbreak And Potential FDA Conflicts of Interest
                    _____________________________________________

                    Ask Congress to Investigate COVID Origins and Government Response to Pandemic.

                    i love myself. the quietest. simplest. most powerful. revolution ever. ---- nayyirah waheed

                    "...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party

                    (My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.)
                    Never forget Excalibur.

                    Comment


                    • Re: US - 36 dead, 510 infected with fungal meningitis in 19 states

                      CDC has not posted an update today.

                      A couple of weeks ago CDC announced that they would be updating on a M - W - F schedule, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they're switching to a weekly update.



                      "What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it." - Herbert Simon

                      "The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free government." - Sam Houston

                      Comment


                      • Re: US - 36 dead, 510 infected with fungal meningitis in 19 states

                        CDC: Multistate Fungal Meningitis Outbreak - Current Case Count

                        November 29, 2012 2:30 PM EST

                        Notice

                        Going forward, we will be providing case count updates on Mondays.


                        I wish my predictive skills worked as well on Powerball tickets.



                        "What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it." - Herbert Simon

                        "The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free government." - Sam Houston

                        Comment


                        • Re: US - 36 dead, 510 infected with fungal meningitis in 19 states

                          As noted above, the CDC will only be updating case counts once a week. However, they are now including a breakout of the data to identify the specific type of case by category. So far the types include: meningitis (with or w/out other infection); stroke w/out lumbar puncture only; paraspinal/spinal infection only; peripheral joint infection only; and deaths.

                          You can see the latest numbers in the thread "CDC - Multi-State Meningitis Outbreak - Current Case Count (Map)" (with a big to Pathfinder ).

                          Status: Ongoing Investigation
                          Infection: Fungal
                          Facility Type: Outpatient Setting
                          Case Count: 541*
                          States: 19*
                          Deaths: 36*


                          Today's CDC update shows no new deaths but still an increase of 31 cases. There have been no changes to the Current Situation, or to Clinician or Patient Guidance. The various state Health Depts. have significantly decreased the content and frequency of their own updates, and media attention on this topic has dropped off as well. All these factors will make it more difficult to stay informed on what is happening.

                          One reason this lack of attention may be significant is that the FDA has announced that additional NECC products have tested positive for microbial contamination and the number of identified contaminants has increased. The potential clinical implications of the various contaminants is unknown. (See more at the threads here and here.)

                          As the article that I posted above the other day mentioned, there are people who received injections with NECC products who are ill but don't fit the original case parameters and so aren't counted among known cases. It's possible that with the new FDA information which identifies additional contaminants in other NECC products, we may soon have a whole new patient set.



                          "What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it." - Herbert Simon

                          "The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free government." - Sam Houston

                          Comment


                          • Re: US - 36 dead, 510 infected with fungal meningitis in 19 states

                            This week's update from CDC shows an additional death in Maryland. The MD state Dept. of Health has not yet updated it's website with any info on the fatal case, and I haven't found anything from media sources either. The overall case count has increased by 49 cases.


                            Status: Ongoing Investigation
                            Infection: Fungal
                            Facility Type: Outpatient Setting
                            Case Count: 590*
                            States: 19*
                            Deaths: 37*


                            In spite of the still increasing case count, Virginia has officially announced that it's scaling back surveillance and support (see Virginia thread). Although that is the only official announcement that I've found so far, it's very likely that most other state health departments are doing something similar.



                            "What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it." - Herbert Simon

                            "The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free government." - Sam Houston

                            Comment


                            • Re: US - 36 dead, 510 infected with fungal meningitis in 19 states

                              This weeks update from CDC includes 2 additional deaths; one in TN and one in IN, as well as 30 additional cases being reported.



                              Status: Ongoing Investigation
                              Infection: Fungal
                              Facility Type: Outpatient Setting
                              Case Count: 620*
                              States: 19*
                              Deaths: 39*


                              ETA: Note from CDC on update schedule:

                              "* The next update to case counts will be on December 28, then resuming every Monday beginning January 7."
                              Last edited by Catbird; December 17, 2012, 09:02 PM. Reason: eta



                              "What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it." - Herbert Simon

                              "The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free government." - Sam Houston

                              Comment


                              • Re: US - 39 dead, 620 infected with fungal meningitis in 19 states

                                http://www.insurancejournal.com/news.../17/274344.htm

                                Dozens Sue Pharmacy but Compensation Uncertain, Tenn. Attorney Says
                                December 17, 2012
                                [snip]
                                Complicating efforts to recover damages, attorneys for the patients said, NECC is a small private company that has now recalled all its products and laid off its workers. The company?s pharmacy licenses have been surrendered, and it?s unclear whether NECC had adequate liability insurance...
                                The medical bills and suffering of survivors are overwhelming and the lives of the caretakers could be changed forever.
                                _____________________________________________

                                Ask Congress to Investigate COVID Origins and Government Response to Pandemic.

                                i love myself. the quietest. simplest. most powerful. revolution ever. ---- nayyirah waheed

                                "...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party

                                (My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.)
                                Never forget Excalibur.

                                Comment

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