DHHS Confirms 4 Cases in NH Related to Meningitis Outbreak

The  New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health Services said Saturday there four confirmed cases related to a fungal meningitis outbreak associated with a recalled steroid produced in a Framingham, Mass., pharmacy.

The nation-wide outbreak has claimed the lives of at least 14 people and sickened nearly 200 in 15 states, according to DHHS.

In New Hampshire, four people – three men and one woman – all between the ages of 40 and 60 are being cared for and their health monitored, according to DHHS.

and recalled all medications they've produced since the beginning of the year after three lots of a steroid used to manage pain were tied to dozens of cases of fungal meningitis. To date, the meningitis outbreak only appears to be tied to the three lots that were initially recalled.

The medication believed to be linked to the illnesses here in New Hampshire and nationwide are three lots of methylprednisolone acetate used for injections for pain management. It was announced had used some of the tainted epidurals to treat patients. for people who received who received a different form of injection.

In NH, more than 740 patients at those three Pain Care clinics may have come into contact with the tainted steroid, the DHHS said.

“This has been a very difficult time for patients and healthcare providers affected by this outbreak,” said New Hampshire’s Public Health Director Dr. José Montero. “Our thoughts are with these patients and their families as they deal with the complicated circumstances surrounding this unfortunate
incident.”

DPHS is working with Pain Care, LLC to ensure that all patients potentially exposed are notified.

Patients diagnosed with this infection as part of this outbreak are at risk for fungal meningitis, epidural abscess, stroke or joint symptoms associated with the injected medication. The investigation remains active and information on cases continues to be gathered to understand the extent of this outbreak.

There are many different types of meningitis, a general term for an infection or inflammatory process involving the lining of the brain and central nervous system.

The cases under investigation have no relation to the much more common forms of bacterial or viral meningitis. This particular form of meningitis cannot be passed from person to person, but can be very serious, even fatal. Symptoms to be aware of include: headache, fever, nausea, stiff neck and sensitivity to light and in this type of meningitis symptoms may be or have been mild in some cases.

The CDC is recommending that patients who feel ill with the above symptoms or have weakness or numbness in any part of the body or slurred speech after receiving this medication should contact their healthcare provider. Also patients who received injection of the medication to joints should report to their provider if they have local symptoms including increased pain, redness or warmth at the site of the injection.

For more information, visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/hai the DHHS
website at www.dhhs.nh.gov or call the DPHS Bureau of Infectious Disease
Control at 603-271-4496.