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Virginia - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis and associated infections - 51 cases; 2 deaths

Catbird

Catbird

Senior Moderator
Virginia Department of Health


Investigation of Meningitis and Stroke after Spinal Injections

Virginia Department of Health is working with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and other states on a multi-state investigation of meningitis and strokes in patients who received spinal injections. As of October 11, 2012, VDH is reporting 30 cases (27 Virginia residents and 3 West Virginia residents) with a clinical presentation consistent with fungal infection, which includes 1 fatal case. Additional suspect cases are being investigated and the number of cases in Virginia will be updated daily. For information on national cases, please visit the CDC, http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html

All infected patients received preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate among three lots which have been voluntarily recalled by the New England Compounding Center, in Framingham, Massachusetts. VDH is working closely with Insight Imaging in Roanoke and New River Valley Surgery Center in Christiansburg to assist the 693 patients who received this medication via injection between June 28, 2012 and September 26, 2012. The manufacturer has recalled the implicated lots of the medication and the product is no longer being used.

Patients who had spinal injection procedures at these two facilities are being asked if they developed any new symptoms since their spinal injection. Patients are being advised to seek immediate evaluation and let a physician know about this investigation and the concern for possible infection. Symptoms of concern are new or worsening headache, fever, localized weakness, falls, difficulty walking, slurred speech or other symptoms that may suggest a stroke.

If you have questions or concerns that you may be experiencing illness after receiving a spinal injection, please contact your health care provider.

For more information, contact your local health department or 211.

Information for Clinicians

Additional Information:

 
Re: Virginia - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis - 30 cases; 1 death

Re: Virginia - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis - 30 cases; 1 death

Autopsy Confirms Virginia Man Died of Meningitis

Douglas Wingate of Salem was infected from a tainted injection

<META content="">Friday, Oct 12, 2012 | Updated 2:47 PM EDT

An autopsy has confirmed a 47-year-old Virginia man died Sept. 18 of acute fungal meningitis.

Douglas Wingate of Salem was infected with the form of meningitis as the result of a spinal injection, said district administrator Tracie Cooper of the Roanoke office of the state medical examiner.

While state public health officials have not identified Wingate as one of hundreds who received a possibly tainted batch of steroids, they have acknowledged one death in Virginia as a result of wide outbreak of the rare, potentially deadly strain of meningitis.

More...
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/l...irginia-Man-Died-of-Meningitis-173911391.html
 
Re: Virginia - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis - 34 cases; 1 death

Re: Virginia - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis - 34 cases; 1 death

Investigation of Meningitis and Stroke after Spinal Injections

Virginia Department of Health is working with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and other states on a multi-state investigation of meningitis and strokes in patients who received spinal injections. As of October 15, 2012, VDH is reporting 34 cases (31 Virginia residents and 3 West Virginia residents) with a clinical presentation consistent with fungal infection, which includes 1 fatal case. Additional suspect cases are being investigated and the number of cases in Virginia will be updated daily. For information on national cases, please visit the CDC, http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html.

All infected patients received preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate among three lots which have been voluntarily recalled by the New England Compounding Center, in Framingham, Massachusetts. VDH is working closely with Insight Imaging in Roanoke and New River Valley Surgery Center in Christiansburg to assist the 693 patients who received this medication via injection between June 28, 2012 and September 26, 2012. The manufacturer has recalled the implicated lots of the medication and the product is no longer being used.

Patients who had spinal injection procedures at these two facilities are being asked if they developed any new symptoms since their spinal injection. Patients are being advised to seek immediate evaluation and let a physician know about this investigation and the concern for possible infection. Symptoms of concern are new or worsening headache, fever, localized weakness, falls, difficulty walking, slurred speech or other symptoms that may suggest a stroke.

If you have questions or concerns that you may be experiencing illness after receiving a spinal injection, please contact your health care provider.

For more information, contact your local health department or 211.

http://www.vdh.state.va.us/
 
Re: Virginia - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis - 34 cases; 1 death

Re: Virginia - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis - 34 cases; 1 death

"Virginia loses 2nd person to fungal meningitis outbreak"

"Virginia has lost a second person to the fungal meningitis outbreak.

According to Virginia Department of Health spokesman Matthew Lipani, the person who died lived in Southwest Virginia. Lipani was not more specific than that, nor did he release the person's name.

The first death happened to a patient taken to LewisGale Medical Center in Salem two weeks ago.

The VDH also said the total number of cases in the Commonwealth increased to 35."
 
Re: Virginia - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis - 34 cases; 1 death

Re: Virginia - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis - 34 cases; 1 death

Investigation of Meningitis and Stroke after Spinal Injections

Virginia Department of Health is working with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and other states on a multi-state investigation of meningitis and strokes in patients who received spinal injections. As of October 16, 2012, VDH is reporting 35 cases (32 Virginia residents and 3 West Virginia residents) with a clinical presentation consistent with fungal infection, which includes 2 fatal cases. Additional suspect cases are being investigated and the number of cases in Virginia will be updated daily. For information on national cases, please visit the CDC, http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html.

All infected patients received preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate among three lots which have been voluntarily recalled by the New England Compounding Center, in Framingham, Massachusetts. VDH is working closely with Insight Imaging in Roanoke and New River Valley Surgery Center in Christiansburg to assist the 693 patients who received this medication via injection between June 28, 2012 and September 26, 2012. The manufacturer has recalled the implicated lots of the medication and the product is no longer being used.

Patients who had spinal injection procedures at these two facilities are being asked if they developed any new symptoms since their spinal injection. Patients are being advised to seek immediate evaluation and let a physician know about this investigation and the concern for possible infection. Symptoms of concern are new or worsening headache, fever, localized weakness, falls, difficulty walking, slurred speech or other symptoms that may suggest a stroke.

If you have questions or concerns that you may be experiencing illness after receiving a spinal injection, please contact your health care provider.

For more information, contact your local health department or 211.

http://www.vdh.state.va.us/
 
Re: Virginia - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis - 50 cases; 2 deaths

Re: Virginia - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis - 50 cases; 2 deaths

Virginia Dept. of Health: Investigation of Meningitis and Stroke after Spinal Injections​


"Virginia Department of Health is working with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and other states on a multi-state investigation of meningitis and strokes in patients who received spinal injections. As of November 26, 2012, VDH is reporting 51 cases (48 Virginia residents and 3 West Virginia residents) with a clinical presentation consistent with fungal infection, which includes 2 fatal cases. Additional suspect cases are being investigated and the number of cases in Virginia will be updated as more information becomes available. If you have questions or concerns that you may be experiencing illness after receiving a spinal injection, please contact your health care provider. Clinical guidance for Virginia is available here and information on national cases is available by visiting the CDC, http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html. "
 
Re: Virginia - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis - 51 cases; 2 deaths

Re: Virginia - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis - 51 cases; 2 deaths

VDH: Investigation of Meningitis and Stroke after Spinal Injections

Virginia Department of Health is working with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and other states on a multi-state investigation of meningitis and strokes in patients who received spinal injections. For the week beginning December 3, 2012, VDH is reporting 51 cases (48 Virginia residents and 3 West Virginia residents) with a clinical presentation consistent with fungal infection, which includes 2 fatal cases. Additional suspect cases are being investigated and the number of cases in Virginia will be updated as more information becomes available.
 
Re: Virginia - Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis and associated infections - 51 cases; 2 deaths


"The discovery of new cases in the fungal meningitis outbreak has slowed in Virginia, prompting state health officials to change the way they monitor those at risk for becoming ill.

This week, health officials will begin to reign in surveillance efforts aimed at identifying new cases in the outbreak, which was tied to tainted steroid injections and has killed 36 and sickened hundreds in 19 states. The change comes as data collected by the Virginia Department of Health show a 20-day average incubation period from when a person received the steroid injection and first developed symptoms of the fungal infection.

"We do expect that there may be additional cases, but in much smaller numbers and with a decreasing frequency," said Dr. David Trump, state epidemiologist for the health department. "Hopefully, everyone who was exposed knows what to look for and won't hesitate to seek medical attention."

...In the Roanoke and Alleghany health districts, the process involved assigning about 25 employees to call about 260 people, said Dr. Stephanie Harper, director of the two districts.

"We directed a lot of resources to getting it done," she said. "It's manpower intensive."

The department also made home visits and sent certified letters to ensure that no person was missed, she said.

...This week will mark the last time Harper's nurses make the weekly calls, she said. After that, her staff will be available to answer questions, but they will not actively check in with people, she said.

The decision follows the recommendation from Trump that the surveillance is no longer necessary, although he has left the ultimate decision up to the various health district directors in Southwest Virginia who have been coordinating the efforts.

So, for instance, the outreach will continue until Dec. 23 to the 94 affected people living in the New River Valley Health District, said Dr. Molly O'Dell, director of that district.

"We're considering going to once a month for three months after that," she said. "But we haven't decided.""
 
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