Fourteen Have Died In Meningitis Outbreak

Federal health officials have tracked down 12,000 of the roughly 14,000 people who may have received contaminated steroid shots in the nation’s growing meningitis outbreak, warning Thursday that patients will need to keep watch for symptoms of the deadly infection for months.  170 have been sickened by the outbreak and 14 had died. The St. Clair County Health Department is assisting local hospitals and providers in helping reassure our community about the multi-state investigation of cases of fungal meningitis among patients who may have received epidural steroid injections. Our local hospitals, (Port Huron Hospital, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and St. John River District Hospital) have confirmed that they do not stock or use the epidural steroid injection at the center of the multi-state meningitis outbreak. Dr. Mercatante, Medical Health Officer says that locally they will continue to monitor the situation and notify healthcare providers of any changes in this meningitis outbreak.  This rare form of meningitis is not contagious and is not transmitted from person to person.   Additional information about the Michigan investigation can be found at www.michigan.gov/mdch. For CDC investigation information visit www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/meningitis.html.