One Steroid-Related Meningitis Death in Maryland

One Maryland resident has died from a rare form of fungal meningitis after receiving a treatment that has been linked to a meningitis outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Five non-fatal cases of related meningitis have been reported in the state, according to the CDC.

According to the CDC, those who have recently received epidural steroid injections (injections in the spine) may be at risk for this rare form of fungal meningitis. As of Monday, the illness has killed at least eight people in the United States, according to the CDC.

One person has died in Virginia and there are 23 reported cases of this fungal meningitis in that state. Nationwide, there have been eight reported deaths and 105 reported cases of steroid-related fungal meningitis according to the CDC.

A full list of locations that may have received shipments of the contaminated steroids is available on the CDC website.

According to the CDC, there is a link to the meningitis outbreak and the New England Compounding Center, where the steroids were produced. The company has issued a voluntary recall of all its products.

The CDC fears several hundreds may be at risk in each state where the medication - commonly given for back pain - was shipped.

People infected with fungal meningitis might have one, some or all of the following symptoms, according to the CDC:

• Headache, fever, nausea
• Stiffness of the neck
• Confusion, dizziness
• Discomfort from bright lights

Patients who think they may have received the methylprednisolone acetate injection should contact the CDC at 800-232-4636.