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Subscribe to RSSInfections related to an ongoing outbreak of fungal meningitis reached 308 on Tuesday, with 23 deaths.
That includes 304 cases of meningitis, stroke or other nervous system problems tied to epidural injections of contaminated steroids, plus four infections in patients who received pain shots in joints such as the hip, knee shoulder or elbow.
The death toll has held steady for a few days, but officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that doesn't necessarily mean that the outbreak is waning.
"Too early to say," said Curtis Allen, a CDC spokesman, in an email to NBC News.
The outbreak has now affected patients in 17 states. Nearly 14,000 patients may have received contaminated steroid injections since May 21 produced by the New England Compounding Center of Framingham, Mass. The potentially tainted drugs were sent to pain clinics and health care facilities in 23 states.
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Obviously too much government regulation.
Obviously too much playing with the food pyramid and not enough oversight! Sibelius is a total idiot when it comes to prioritizing what is important.
Isn't deregulation wonderful? Think of it. If government just gets out of the way, business can thrive. So what if a few hundred people get sick, or have brain damage, or die? That's just the cost of doing business. Does anyone notice that not all business owners are ethical or responsible? Does anyone notice that when business owners cheat that the economy gets in trouble, that people get sick or die? There really is a good reason to regulate business. It is the same reason you need to have a law against murder. Not everyone will murder. Most people won't murder anyone, but you really do need laws against it in case someone does turn into a killer, be it by shoddy business practices or by automatic weapons.
You know, underemployed, if someone in your family oe one of your friends get sick or have gotten sick of this same epidemic, then you would be singing a different tune. Just think of all the veterans that have getting these shots. I think you may know some. Shame on you.
And the guy who is the head of this firm sits on the National Board that oversees the Compounding Industry. What's wrong with this picture??????
You know, I wanted to ask what is this company and who are the founders and leaders there?
On the other hand a medical industry that is increasingly trained (and believe's in) using and injecting the next (and even, every) cure-all drug that the burgeoning pharmacutical industry formulates is a great part of this problem too.
Couldn't have said it BETTER myself, underemployed!:)
I think you've been over regulated under employed. Fortunately this type of contamination rarely happens -- better fact check me on this one -- the news media likes to blow things out of proportion as well. But I guess it gives the hand wringing left an opportunity to shout "Bush did it!" BTW the liberals here in Austin are screaming about the flouride in the water. lol! Have a nice Day.
Underemployed: I was in a rear-end collision while I was sitting at an red light. I have three torn disks in my lower back in which I received three epidural injections. I have not been the same since. I have been sick and the doctor's office that gave me the injections have assured me they don't use the tainted type of steroids that was issued.
What you should say is that the Government should make the pharmacy corp. give a list of doctors that received the tainted steroids and let the public know what is what. every one has a opinion, let your opinion help others, not make an opinion to look for attention!! And stop blaming the government for all our ills!! One day someone in your family will be sick or die and you will blame someone else because it is in your will. God Loves You Underemployed!!!!!
This is not a matter of lack of government regulation or caused by deregulation. This is simply human error followed by lack of oversight by QC and laws have been broken. Making more laws and more
regulations would not change the outcome since the current laws have already been violated.
What's really sad here is that the above responders think you're serious.
That says a lot about the people that respond on newsvine and their level of edumacation.
Sarcasm FTW!
Benjoh: Does the word 'sarcasm' appear in your vocabulary? ANYONE who read the statement by Underemployed would understand that they were being 'sarcastic' and were not serious about the remarks they were making!!! Wake up and smell what your are shoveling!
Underemployed: I guess you better type: Sarcasm after your comments because most of the morons below your blog are too stupid to figure it out!
As long as the government stays out of the way and the CEO makes his bonus, a few dozen dead don't matter any more than sickening millions with pollution, or BPA or Atrazine or Triclorsan.
And let's not forget the stock price!
Won't someone please think of the shareholders?
This probably should not be characterized as an outbreak of meningitis; it's more like a case of poisoning or contamination. When people hear outbreak they think of naturally occurring instances of the disease, and meningitis is usually very contagious. People who have not been injected with the drugs that were contaminated do not have to worry about catching the disease as they would if it were an "outbreak" of the disease transmitted in the usual ways. I know this sounds like a quibble, but it's the kind of thing that makes for sensational headlines that are essentially misleading, so that when we get an actual outbreak of something, people are less likely to pay attention because the term has been watered down by using it for things that fit into other categories.
So this is how 'The Walking Dead' outbreak starts...
It was foretold that there would be pestilence on the earth.
Yeah, lets vote Republican and have them cut regulations and funding to the freaking CDC like they want to...
Don't worry, big profits first corporations will look out for your well being and will make sure to keep you and your family, the environment you live in, the water you drink, the air you breathe, the soil you eat from, and the products you use on and in your body, all clean and safe...
Those damn "job killing" government regulations...
Liar, Now we know who is lying! What a name you have. Those damn killing job regulations was put out there by Obama. We should had impeached him years ago. Then when Biden, took office, we could have gotten him too!
We got about a week and half to go. If you want jobs now VOTE for Romney/ Ryan.
If you like how America is getting deeper in debt, then go vote someone who is not a leader and was seen pouting like a little kid on National TV during the second debate. Romney promises to sign the TransContinental Pipeline Bill. You see, when Americas oil resources are freed up, and gasoline goes down, people will start working. Because the oil companies will need supply on demand and the American people got to make this stuff. Then these people will get paid and they'll be needing stuff and someone will have to make that supply on demand, why not the people of the United States of America. Factories will start up, people who had jobs before will go back to their old type of jobs and people will start buying things again. It vicious cycle. But we can't do this if President Obama is re=elected.
Lol, take your rambling rant to the Faux News site. Unlike you and your ticket, Flip-Flopper/Liar, I deal with facts. And the facts are Flip-Flopper/Liar and the Greedy One Percenters want to cut the freaking CDC and end government regulations that keep you and your family, the environment you live in, the water you drink, the air you breathe, the soil you eat from, and the products you use on and in your body, clean and safe.
Please take your fungal meningitis contaminated steroid injection and go vote for Mittens... I sure hope big profits first corporations will look out for your well being when Mittens lets them police themselves...
RandomJ is the screen name, not liar. That is an avatar he chose, and very wisely. you totally missed the fact that he was talking about regulations being important in the medical industry so things like this meningitis outbreak DON'T happen. backspace...delete..delete..delete...retry, and then get back to me.\
The transcontinental pipeline won't bring one gallon of gas into our country. It will be used to sell it overseas. Wht Americans don't seem to understand is that the US is a net exporter of oil based products. Yes we buy the crude oild but sell the finished goods overseas for way more than we paid for the crude. I like the idea of buying our crude oil from the Middle East. It is not expensive as you think and it is saving our reserves for when we need them. There is enough shale oil in US and Canada to last for a very long time.
Great. I just had a hip injection at UMASS on October 1st. The funny thing was I was going to cancel the appt. because I didn't have a good feeling about trying this procedure for myself. I didn't expect that the doctor would buy injections from irresponsible idiots.
I pray that you did not receive one of the contaminated injections.
That, is why we need to end all, regulations. Then, we can all be free. To make, our own choice. There, will be 2 choices. Live in pain. Or trust, the the unregulated Corporations. At least, it will be your free choice. Even, if it does cripple, or kill you. Freedom, is all that counts.
A few hundred, or thousand dead people. Can't be allowed, to get in the way, of the one percent.
wow, what an idiot (the dr that is), if u know it's infected why would u give it out to patients thats basically asking to be sued or fired! recently i've been feeling terrible migraines, daily pain at that, i wonder if thats a side affect, just be careful, go get it checked out, i know i will...good luck! God bless
tiffany, you have to stop taking those pain pills. even ibuprophen will build up in your system over time. drink more water! drink less caffine. work to have less stress in your life. try to go get a massage every couple weeks, or at least once a month. try to find someone who does cranio/sacral work and you'll be ship-shape in no time. weening yourself off the headache medicine is the first, and hardest step
I hope you get tested NOW rather than wait for symptoms . You need to be in contact with your doctor and the lot numbers have been posted many times online. You need to be in contact with the FDA and maybe an attorney.
I keep seeing all the news about these contaminated shots and they are in 23 states but no one has said what states they were sent to. I might have missed it but had a spinal shot in California earlier in the year. Can anyone give me this information?
Thank you
I pray that you will be fine. I found this info on MotherJones dot com. "The outbreak has been traced to three lots of methylprednisolone acetate administered between July 30 and September 18, and the CDC estimates some 14,000 patients may have been exposed." There are two other products from the same company that may be contaminated. "Symptoms of fungal meningitis take one to four weeks to appear." The site that I mentioned also states that "the CDC has a map of states that received the contaminated steroid as well as a comprehensive list of health clinics that administered it", but it also shows a map of the affected states.
California
CYPRESS SURGERY CENTER
559-740-4094
VISALIA
CA
ENCINO OUTPATIENT SURGICENTER
818-986-1037
ENCINO
CA
UKIAH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER
707-463-7345
UKIAH
CA
UNIVERSAL PAIN MANAGEMENT
661-267-6876 x166
PALMDALE
CA
I pray you did not get the contaminated one.
Did any come to PA?
The CDC map shows about 23 states and yes, PA is one.
yes two clinics one in jefferson hills and altoona
one in pittsburgh and altoona
Old man check with r walker 250 he seems to know everything. Good Luck!
This isn't surprising. With the amount of pharmaceuticals prepared and distributed throughout this country, contamination is likely and practically impossible to predict for such types of injections. Epidemiologically, the numbers may seem small, but it is important to track every single potential source with an occurance. Epidemiologists do not have an easy task. This is serious, although I do not believe it is a terrorist atttack.
This is by no means an "outbreak" and I'm tired of hearing this inference. This is another instance where somebody should be charged with negligent murder - multiple counts. Disgusting all the way from the FDA down to the bottom (fish).
Hey this is nothing more than job security for the true slime balls of the earth "LAWYERS".....before you all crucify me I say everything with the exception of "slime ball LAWERS" in jest, so please relax. I understand that people are hurt and being infected needlessly, I get it. Just tired of hearing LAWYERS try to cash in on other peoples pain and suffering makes me sick to be a human being sometimes!!!!1
i have had 3 injections since May.. and one more to be scheduled soon.. I havent heard anything about Oklahoma being one of the states which received the contaminated lots.. anyone know anything about what states are involved?
I googled it and found a website called MotherJones dot com. The map on that page did not show Oklahoma as being one of the states affected. The website also stated that the "The CDC has a map of states that received the contaminated steroid as well as a comprehensive list of health clinics that administered it."
Tell them that any injection that goes into your spine needs to go through a 0.2 micron filter either attached to the syringe, or as part of the epidural set- if it is a compounded steroid
Will the media please stop trying to scare us all about this outbreak? This is getting to be ridiculous: unless you received or possibly received one of these contaminated shots, you are in no danger. Fungal meningitis is not communicable; if it were, these entire hospitals would be on lockdown to prevent the spread of the disease. Furthermore, fungal meningitis is a common pathogen: it can be found as a byproduct of leaf mold. The people who are sick are those who had the fungus injected next to their spinal column, sending it straight into vital parts of their bodies. In addition, I am willing to bet that a number of people who received the shots were already at-risk for the disease anyway, meaning they may have been elderly or sick to begin with, which would explain why they needed the shots. The media needs to stop presenting this disease as if it is a danger to us all. My opinion on the pathetic reporting of this disaster, though, does not in any way diminish my thoughts and condolences to the patients and to the grieving families. Blessed be.
Fourteen thousand people have been injected with something that may kill them. They should be scared. They certainly need to be made aware. This has nothing to do with the media. It has to do with carelessness, lack of oversight and poor lab procedures.
To the person who hates lawyers. Do you really think that this company is going to voluntarily compensate the families of the people who have died, or the people who now have huge medical bills? I agree that we have a very litigious society and a lot of the time the lawsuits are ridiculous, but in this case the company should have to compensate these people. People are dying! Isn't that worth suing over?
Sure would b nice if the idiot who wrote this story told us what 23 states!!
What would be nice is when said idiot stops writing altogether. Idiot makes idiotic
claims such as "outbreak" as though to say it is contagious. The same
idiot tells of stories to incite people to gather info from authors such you
and me. Yes the vine has your ip address and knows who we are and what we blog
about. I am personally getting sick and tired of reading such garbage authored
by “IDIOTS”. I only hope all sickened get well and the unregulated for profit
drug dealers are brought to JUSTICE!
This is a link to a report with all the States and facilities that received contaminated shots.
The link you mentioned did not show up???
i'm no professional by any standards but this whole thing has developed way to slow in my opinion. you just don't walk into a medical location and they give you a shot of this type without keeping records . i take them all the time for my knees .the locations should know where there medical supplies come from and who they administered the shots to pretty quick, and i don't mean days . it seems like (oh well) we don't folks to panic.. you have 23 people dead . i just wonder if any of those lives could have been saved if there had been a since of urgency. i'm just curious if all the infomation has even been told to the all the patients who received the shots and if all the states involved have been listed .
The company in Massachusetts knew about the problem before the death toll reached 11 people dead. They did not inform the doctors who had received their serum....it took an announcement by the CDC to alert the medical profession. You've got to wonder how many more deaths would have been "acceptable" by this company had not the CDC stepped in.
The facts are very obvious. Due to lack of regulation in this sector...which should, by the way, be regulated by the FDA (pharmaceuticals) and the DEA (controlled substances). NO ONE WAS WATCHING THESE FREAKS OF NATURE. It is time to stop this crap...my opinion only. But if they sell to the public, they need, really need to be regulated, checked and inspected. AGAIN, my opinion only. We Americans are sick of being,WELL, sickened and killed by sloppy, filthy, and unscrupulous business people who only care about the BUCK they can make. I feel, personal opinion only, kill them all. They are not Americans. They are a sick, sick offshoot.
Here is the website that shows all the States that have had this contaminated drug.
I get injections as well just has one in my back in September! Best of luck to everyone who has anything done,hope it wasn't the BAD STUFF!!!!
sorry forgot you can't post websites.Just google "List of States" with contaminated drugs and it will come right up,all of them. Good Luck!
300 infected out of 7 billion people?
That is not even close to being a pandemic scare.
Sorry news for those who did get it or passed away, but call me up when it hits 5 million then I'll start screaming like hell........GET ME THE F---K OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!!!! HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
oK I am sorry really for those who lost loves ones because of this, bad deal.
300 hundred infected out of 300 not 7,000,000,000 The company has a 100% kill rate :-(
So... with all of the existing regulation we have... how much good is it doing to stop this sort of thing from happening? That is a rhetorical question, by the way. More regulation will never make any difference. Bad things happen. I mourn for those affected by this. But Uncle Sam canot and will not babysit us from womb to tomb. Can't happen. If we will not take responsibility for our own lives, what makes us think that someone else will? We will always lose. Just look at the government success rate. Dept of energy, formed to decrease dependence on foreign oil. Dept of Education, formed to make American children the smartest in the world. Dept of Defense, formed to protect us from foreign attacks (9-11). DEA, formed to stop illegal drugs. Welfare (including HUD, DHS, etc) formed to end poverty and homelessness. The US Postal Service... Amtrak... Federal Reserve... ETC!
The only goal of the government is to keep us dependent. 16 trillion and growing... does that not seem like a problem to anyone else? As long as we vote within the 2 party system they will always win. Our elections are just as rigged as any other nation in the world; we just haven't figured it out yet.
Meningitis is a timely disease if caught quickly your chances of survival are better, I know about infectious and viral now they are saying fungal...which sounds more devastating. If you get a rash on your torso start getting a bad headache with an extremenly high fever and you had one of those shots get to the er right away...unfortunately the fist thing your going to get is a spinal tap. Meningitis sometimes unfortunately will have an affect on your hearing, sight, brain or you die. Don't wait any symthoms whatsoever go to the ER asap....the disease isn't understood as to why it affects people differently but it does have the tendency to do that...TIME is a big factor....some of us walk around with the germ and it never does anything to us..how do I know all of this...I had meningitis with I was 11 months old and my son did as well...Texas Childrens hospital saved my son...I was just lucky and so was he that we came out ok. Thank the Lord.
Use of a 0.2 micron epidural filter that costs about $2 would have avoided this disaster. They should regulated but not by the government. The same way JCAHO accredits hospitals, there should be a similar agency that accredits these compounding facilities. In time of drug shortages some these compounding companies were the only source of IV electrolytes including: NaHCO3,NaCl,Na acetate,KCl. I bet many of you could not imagine the impact of drug shortages caused by the severely mismanaged Hospira- these will never be brought to light though (and they are regulated by the FDA). People need to be a little smarter, you buy a preservative-free injection that is being compounded by some Tom Brady loving New Englanders- and you decide to inject it in someones spine without th use of a 0.2micron epidural filter that could trap bacteria and fungus- then you have to shoulder some of the blame also.