Our personal injury attorneys are providing free phone consultations to anyone concerned about the fungal meningitis outbreak. As of October 15, 2012 the CDC reports that there are 214 confirmed cases, have been 15 deaths, and cases come from 15 different states.

Today the Food and Drug Administration issued a Statement on the Fungal Meningitis Outbreak. The FDA reports that a new product manufactured by the New England Compounding Center (NECC) has been associated with possible meningitis and/or infections-that is triamcinolone acetonide. This product is another injectable steroid similar to the methylprednisolone acetate which was previously believed to be the only culprit. The FDA also reports that patients administered a drug made by NECC and used in open heart surgery to paralyze heart muscles may possibly be associated with Aspergillus fumigatus infections.

The FDA is advising health care providers to stop using NECC products for the time being. Doctors are being told by the FDA to contact patients who were given NECC injectable products and let them know of the possible risk of an infection. Patients who received NECC injectable products and who experience symptoms of infection should see a medical doctor or report to the emergency room right away.

The symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, light sensitivity, and altered mental state. Symptoms for the other infections which could be possibly linked to NECC products include fever, swelling, increased pain, redness, eye discharge, chest pain, and surgical site drainage. Doctors are asked to report any adverse events following the use of NECC products to the FDA Medwatch Program at 800-332-1088.

The CDC is having a phone conference for physicians on Tuesday October 16, 2012 called Fungal Meningitis Guidance for Clinicians at 2:00 PM EST. The call in number for this is 888-791-6180 (passcode 1281914). We suggest that patients diagnosed with fungal meningitis and their loved ones may want to call in for this phone call in order to be sure they are knowledgeable of the most up to date medical information about the meningitis outbreak.

Our legal team is investigating product liability, negligence, and wrongful death claims relating to the fungal meningitis outbreak. Call us at (888) 213-8140.