Meningitis Outbreak Grows, Rochester Office Alerted
By: Caroline Tucker
Updated: October 6, 2012
The Centers for Disease Control say a nationwide meningitis outbreak has become a public health emergency.
The death toll has risen to seven.
So far there have been at least 64 cases of fungal meningitis in nine states.
It's linked to batches of epidural steroids given to back patients.
New York State has no confirmed or suspected cases, but The New York State Department of Health reports that one Rochester physician's office received a batch of the now-recalled injections.
"What we are recommending, if a physician has had any product produced at the New England Compounding Center, to not use that product," said Curtis Allen, CDC Spokesperson.
Rochester Brain and Spine is one of three New York sites that received some of the center's steroids.
The New York State Department of Health says the office immediately pulled the injections and notified patients who may have been affected.
New York Health officials have no confirmed or suspected cases in new york.
"At this time we cannot say with absolute certainty the cause of the outbreak - continue to work with the FDA to uncover looking for ultimate cause. "
The CDC says the compounding center stopped production on October 3 and recalled all steroid medication.
These steroids were for patients with back pain.
"This is obviously a public health emergency and the public has a right to know."
The CDC says fungal meningitis is not contagious.
It also says that pregnant women do not need to worry, it says this outbreak has nothing to do with epidurals women receive when giving birth.
