Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Claims 37th Victim

A second person has died in Maryland, and the 37th person nationally, in connection with a fungal meningitis outbreak tied to tainted steroid injections, reported the Baltimore Sun.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said nationally 590 cases of fungal meningitis and 37 people have died from the national outbreak, tied to Framingham specialty pharmacy New England Compounding Center.

The company allegedly produced contaminated medications and shipped vials to clinics across the country, but not in Massachusetts, according to the CDC and the FDA. The Waverly Street company has since been closed.

NECC recalled every product in made back in October.

Besides fungal meningitis, patient have reported contracting arachnoiditis and other infections, too.

A raid of NECC by health officials discovered mold and other unsanitary conditions.

More than 70 lawsuits have been filed since the deadly outbreak began in October. Recently, a

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Click here to find all of Framingham Patch’s coverage of NECC and the meningitis outbreak.

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