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UPDATE: Meningitis Outbreak Spreading, 5 Deaths

219 views · Published 8 October 2012 · 2:37 · Indexed 12 November 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2012 · News & Politics

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By Alyssa Spirato  The numbers surrounding a fungal meningitis outbreak is rising,  putting many on high alert. Friday, NewsChannel9 learned that the number of cases in Tennessee has risen from 25 to 29. Three Tennesseans have died from the disease.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the strain may be linked to what's known as an "epidural steroid injection",  a shot used to help back pain.Now, many locals who received the shot fear their one of the hundreds affected.Cynthia White has been getting epidural steroid injections for her back pain for 15 years. But when she had her most recent shot last week, she immediately felt something wasn't right. She says she doesn't know if she was one of the hundreds affected, but is fearing the worst." I was feeling bad before I even heard about what was going on. And when I saw that on the tv, I told my husband, I'm like 'oh man, maybe I need to go to the doctor cause I just don't feel right,'" says White.As of Friday evening, the CDC reports 39 cases that surfaced throughout 6 states, 36 cases are in the Southeast. The strain has taken 5 lives, 3 in Tennessee.It all has to do with a fungus called aspergillus. It affects the brain and spinal cord lining. This outbreak is linked to a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts,  that sent the possibly tainted meds to 75 clinics, in 25 different states.Erlanger Medical Center's Infectious Disease Doctor, Dr. James Sizemore has an idea of what's behind the outbreak."Likely what happened is that it contaminated these lots of steroids during their manufacturing process, and then when the steroids were injected as part of therapy for the patient, you're giving the patient meningitis," says Sizemore.White says she plans to talk to her doctor a lot in the coming days. "I don't know where they came from, and I think somebody should contact us and let us know if it is a chance that we've been affected," says White.There are signs you can look out for for fungal meningitis. Dr. Sizemore says if you have headaches, fever, stiffness of neck, or nausea, see your doctor immediately.He also says the strain isn't contagious.The CDC also wants to make it clear that the pregnancy epidural is NOT the same medication as the strain.

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