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CDC, FDA, Massachusetts Department of Public Health Joint Telebriefing Updating Investigation of Meningitis Outbreak Today 3pm EST

sharon sanders

sharon sanders

Editor-in-Chief & President
Media Advisory
For Immediate Release
Thursday, October 11, 2012

Contact: CDC Division of News & Electronic Media
(404) 639-3286

FDA Public Affairs
(301) 796-4540

Massachusetts Department of Public Health Communications
(617) 624-5006

CDC, FDA, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Joint Telebriefing Updating Investigation of Meningitis Outbreak

WHAT: CDC, FDA, and Massachusetts Department of Public Health will host a telephone-only media availability to provide updates about the multistate investigation of meningitis among patients who have received an epidural steroid injection (medication injected into the spine) and joint injections.

WHO: J. Todd Weber, MD, Incident Manager of the Multistate Meningitis Outbreak and Chief of Prevention and Response Branch, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, CDC

Deborah M. Autor, JD, Deputy Commissioner for Global Regulatory Operations and Policy, FDA

Madeleine Biondolillo, MD, Director, Department of Public Health?s Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

WHEN: Thursday, October 11 at 3 p.m. ET

DIAL-IN:
Media: 888-795-0855
Non-Media: 888-942-8512
INTERNATIONAL: 415-228-3900

TRANSCRIPT
A transcript of this media availability will be available following the briefing at the CDC web site at www.cdc.gov/media.

###
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
 
Re: US - 14 dead, 170 sick from suspected fungal meningitis as outbreak worsens

Re: US - 14 dead, 170 sick from suspected fungal meningitis as outbreak worsens

I'm sure there will be a full transcript available later, and there may be other details not covered here. But I thought this would be useful for new information for the time being.


Joint CDC/MA Dept. of Health Press Conference, Oct. 11, as live-blogged by The Tennessean (reporter Adam Tamburin):

Key new information:


Number of people exposed now estimated to be 14,000; approximately 12,000 have been contacted

Case count is 169 fungal meningitis; 1 case of fungal infection in joint (ankle)

More joint infections are expected to found

More than 50 vials have tested positive for fungus​




-----------------------------------
Adam Tamburin:
Key speakers today...
2:09

Adam Tamburin:
Dr. J. Todd Weber, Incident Manager of the Multistate Meningitis Outbreak and Chief of Prevention and Response Branch, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, CDC

Deborah M. Autor, Deputy Commissioner for Global Regulatory Operations and Policy, FDA

Dr. Madeleine Biondolillo, Director, Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
2:11

Adam Tamburin:
Webber: New information indicates about 14,000 received tainted epidural steroid injections nationwide. More than 12,000 have been contacted.
2:12

Adam Tamburin:
"We know fungal infections can be slow to develop. ... Patients and their doctors will need to be vigilant for at least several months."
2:12

Adam Tamburin:
Headaches a key symtom in almost every case of fungal meningitis.
2:13

Adam Tamburin:
169 fungal meningitis, one joint infection connected with the fungus-infected drugs.
2:13

Adam Tamburin:
That's 169 fungal meningitis cases.
2:14

Adam Tamburin:
Fungal meningitis is hard to detect, and sometimes the fungus won't be recognizable.
2:15

Adam Tamburin:
"This is new territory for public health and the medical community."
2:18

Adam Tamburin:
More fungal joint infections are expected to arise as the investigation continues.
2:19

Adam Tamburin:
Autor is now speaking.
2:20

Adam Tamburin:
FDA, others will work to strengthen regulations on compounding centers.
2:22

Adam Tamburin:
The New England Compounding Center, which produced the 14,000 vials of potentially tainted steroids, hasn't produced any products since Oct. 3.
2:25

Adam Tamburin:
Ameridose, which has a business connection with NECC, has also closed down.
2:26

Adam Tamburin:
Biondolillo up next.
2:28

Adam Tamburin:
Yesterday, the MA board of pharmacy released a statement reminding compounding centers that compounded drugs, like the potentially contaminated vials, can only be produced for individual specific patients as prescribed.
2:29

Adam Tamburin:
No wrongdoing has been uncovered so far at Ameridose.
2:29

Adam Tamburin:
Calls for "clear authority over regulating these practices."
2:34

Adam Tamburin:
Biondolillo: Under MA regulations for compounding pharmacies, the department of public health does not regulate the volume of drugs produced by these companies.
2:34

Adam Tamburin:
Biondolillo called for federal regulations that govern interstate business brokered by compounding centers.
2:38

Adam Tamburin:
Autor: More than 50 vials have tested positive for containing fungus.
2:40

Adam Tamburin:
Biondolillo: "This is the time ... to sit down and grapple with this new model of pharmacy compounding."
2:43

Adam Tamburin:
The person who had the fungal infection in their ankle does not have meningitis.
2:44

Adam Tamburin:
That person did not receive the injection in their spine, but in their joint.
2:52

Adam Tamburin:
Autor: "It's really unf that it takes a crisis like this" to trigger change in policy.

-------------------------------------------------------
 
Last edited:
Re: CDC, FDA, Massachusetts Department of Public Health Joint Telebriefing Updating Investigation of Meningitis Outbreak Today 3pm EST

sharon sanders said:
Media Advisory
For Immediate Release
Thursday, October 11, 2012

Contact: CDC Division of News & Electronic Media
(404) 639-3286

FDA Public Affairs
(301) 796-4540

Massachusetts Department of Public Health Communications
(617) 624-5006

CDC, FDA, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Joint Telebriefing Updating Investigation of Meningitis Outbreak

WHAT: CDC, FDA, and Massachusetts Department of Public Health will host a telephone-only media availability to provide updates about the multistate investigation of meningitis among patients who have received an epidural steroid injection (medication injected into the spine) and joint injections.

WHO: J. Todd Weber, MD, Incident Manager of the Multistate Meningitis Outbreak and Chief of Prevention and Response Branch, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, CDC

Deborah M. Autor, JD, Deputy Commissioner for Global Regulatory Operations and Policy, FDA

Madeleine Biondolillo, MD, Director, Department of Public Health?s Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

WHEN: Thursday, October 11 at 3 p.m. ET

DIAL-IN:
Media: 888-795-0855
Non-Media: 888-942-8512
INTERNATIONAL: 415-228-3900

TRANSCRIPT
A transcript of this media availability will be available following the briefing at the CDC web site at www.cdc.gov/media.

###
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Click to expand...


Notes from this teleconference:

#USA CDC, FDA, Massachusetts Department of Public Health Joint Telebriefing re: #Meningitis Outbreak Today 3pm EST http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=470993#post470993 ? #fb

#USA @CDCgov Updated #Meningitis Outbreak Map October 11, 2012 - 14 deaths, 170 cases http://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/meningitis-map.html ? #fb

#USA - Updated October 11, 2012 - @CDCgov page for Multistate #Meningitis Outbreak Investigation http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html ? #fb

#USA - Updated Oct 11, 2012 - @CDCgov page:Frequently Asked Questions For Patients: Multistate #Meningitis Outbreak http://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/patients/faq-meningitis-outbreak-patients.html ? #fb

Now speaking: J. Todd Weber, MD,Incident Manager of Multistate Meningitis Outbreak and Chief of Prevention and Response Branch, @CDCgov #fb

A negative fungal #meningitis test result does not necessarily mean a negative case. @CDCgov #fb

CDC recommending 2 drugs at this time: Voriconazole & liposomal amphotericin B - recs may change as cases present @CDCgov #meningitis #fb

@CDCgov Interim Treatment Guidance here: http://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/clinicians/guidance_cns.html ? #meningitis #fb

Deborah M. Autor, JD, Deputy Commissioner for Global Regulatory Operations and Policy, FDA now speaking @FDArecalls @CDCgov #fb

@FDArecalls investigation ongoing & working with CDC and all states #meningitis @cdcgov #fb

Now Madeleine Biondolillo, MD,, Mass Dept of Public Health speaking... @CDCgov #meningitis #fb

She basically said Massachusetts is cooperating with federal officials. @cdcgov #meningitis #fb

Biondolillo: NECC licensed to deliver single prescriptions only. @CDCgov #meningitis #fb

Biondolillo: DPH of Mass. does not track volume of medicines produced and distributed. @CDCgov #meningitis #fb

Biondolillo: Mass state alleges that NECC may have broken state law regarding large scale production & distribution. @CDCgov #meningitis #fb

Not sure who is speaking, but approx. 50 vials have tested positive for fungus contamination.... @CDCgov #meningitis #fb

Autor: Need new framework for pharmacy compounding at federal level @CDCgov #meningitis #fb

Weber: 1st suspected case with joint infection (ankle) - still evaluating patient. @CDCgov #meningitis #fb

Benjamin Park M.D. with @cdcgov speaking: attack rate is not known at this time. #meningitis #fb

Park: Says incubation rate can be a "long time" indicating several weeks + @CDCgov #meningitis #fb

An earlier comment from a @CDCgov rep: emphasis that this #meningitis contamination event IS NOT connected to flu vaccines #fb

This ends the media conference call today. @CDCgov #meningitis #fb
 
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