Three Minnesota women in their 40s have Minnesota's fist confirmed cases of meningitis linked to a tainted steroid supplied by the New England Compounding Center.
The first two women were evaluated after they experienced fever and headaches, possible symptoms of meningitis. Both are being treated at a local hospital with antibiotic and antifungal drugs.
So far, 91 cases of fungal meningitis have been reported in nine states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seven cases were fatal.
On Sunday, the CDC updated its map showing the confirmed meningitis to show a third case in Minnesota.
It is believed about 950 injections of the tainted steroid were administered in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Advanced Pain Specialists, the clinic where the steroid was administered, have been working to contact all the patients that received the drug. The steroids were also sent to the Minnesota Surgery Center.
A total 350 people have been contacted, but it's estimated that 750 patients were given the steroids. MDH and MAPS hope to have contacted everyone by Sunday night.
On Saturday, officials at MDH were bustling to contact any patient that could be affected, like Lisa Blake.
"It said my clinic at 7:30 p.m. and I thought, 'Uh-oh, this might not be good if they're calling me after hours,'" she recalled. "They asked if I had any fever, if I was sensitive to light, if I had any headaches."
The third case of meningitis is believed to have been uncovered by those phone calls, according to an MDH spokesman.
This type of meningitis is rare, but it is not contagious. The incubation period is typically between one to four weeks, so anyone who received a steroid injection more than a month ago should be in the clear.
From more information regarding the outbreak, click here.
MDH officials say they believe they may see additional cases as they continue to notify the Minnesota patients who were treated with the tainted steroid products.
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