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Maryland - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis and associated infections - 25 cases; 2 deaths

Catbird

Catbird

Senior Moderator
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Meningitis Outbreak Associated with NECC Injectable Steroids

Maryland Cases (as of October 11, 2012)
13 cases (including 1 death)

Outbreak-Related News

Guidance for Patients

Guidance for Clinicians

Guidance for Maryland Laboratories
Interim Laboratory Guidance - October 5, 2012

NECC Product Information

Other Resources
 
Re: Maryland - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis - 13 cases; 1 death

Re: Maryland - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis - 13 cases; 1 death

15th case reported in Maryland

"October 13, 2012

Health officials Saturday confirmed a 15th fungal meningitis case in Maryland as a multi-state outbreak of the disease linked to a steroid injection continued to spread.

Meningitis cases have reached 198 in 13 states. One person in Maryland has died, while 15 have died nationwide."
 
Re: Maryland - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis and associated infections - 23 cases; 1 death

Re: Maryland - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis and associated infections - 23 cases; 1 death

The official information on the DHMH website doesn't provide any detail about the 2nd fatal case. However, media reports state that the death actually occurred in November.





Maryland Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene:Meningitis Outbreak Associated with NECC Injectable Steroids​


Maryland Cases (as of December 11, 2012)
25 cases (including 2 deaths)
 
Re: Maryland - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis and associated infections - 25 cases; 2 deaths

There is still no official information available from the state about this 2nd fatal case, but there are now several media reports. The information they provide, admittedly vague, is a bit worrisome, or at the least, confusing.

The Baltimore Sun: Fallston man died of fungal meningitis

"December 12, 2012
John C. "Jack" Millhausen, an 84-year-old Fallston resident, is at least the second Marylander to die of fungal meningitis in a national epidemic that experts say is slowing but about which many questions remain.

Millhausen died Nov. 15 at Gilchrist Hospice Care in Towson, his family said, not long after receiving a spinal shot of a contaminated steroid, several batches of which have caused nearly 600 cases of infections and 37 deaths across the country. Maryland health officials confirmed a second death in the state from the outbreak on Monday but would not confirm that it was Millhausen's, citing confidentiality rules.

...The state office of the chief medical examiner confirmed that Millhausen died of complications from fungal meningitis stemming from a contaminated steroid injection."


This is what caught my eye...."Not long after"?

The contaminated steroid products were recalled Sept. 26 and should have been immediately removed from inventory. Even if he received a shot on the 9/26, that makes it about 6 weeks before his death. To me, that doesn't qualify as "not long after".

I am hoping that this is just another case of vague and poorly phrased reporting on the part of the media.

However, the other thing that makes me curious about this case is the delay in the State Health Dept. reporting his death to the CDC. He wasn't reported as a fatality until the update of Dec. 10, even though his death occurred on Nov. 15th. A report from the local WBOC News says:

"Maryland health officials say the second person to die in the state from an outbreak of fungal meningitis was a person who was known to be infected and was receiving treatment."

So, since he was already diagnosed, and being treated for the fungal infection, I don't see how having to wait for autopsy results (cultures, etc.) would account for the delay in reporting his death to CDC.

The whole thing just makes me a bit... curious.
 
Re: Maryland - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis and associated infections - 25 cases; 2 deaths

The Department of Health report was last updated as of Dec. 21st, and still shows a case count of 25. There are no media reports of any additional cases.
 
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