Stories of 2012: Recall on Tainted Steroids has Far Reaching Effects

Merrimack Patch has it's first full year in the books and what a year it's been! We re-elected President Barack Obama to another four years, and hey, the Mayan apocalypse didn't happen, so congratulations, we're all still here.

From the opening of the Merrimack Premium Outlets to another Halloween storm that cut power to thousands for days, there's been no shortage of news in town. We've seen businesses and residents in the community doing wonderful things to support their neighbors and communities as far away as Haiti. There's been business growth, and sadly a few closures.

There have been exciting moments in sports with the boys varsity basketball state championship, the baseball team playing, but unfortunately losing their state championship, and the Merrimack Cardinals Midget Cheerleaders win at nationals earlier this month. Another Rock'n Ribfest was written into the books, as was a continually-growing Merrimack Fall Festival and Business Expo, and the midway returned to town on the Fourth of July after a short hiatus.

Join us as we count down some of the top stories of the year between today and Dec. 30. Thank you for making this a wonderful year. Enjoy the final days of 2012, we can't wait to see what 2013 has in store!

5. Recall on Tainted Steroids has Far Reaching Effects

At the beginning of October, information came out that three lots of a steroid used to manage pain had been recalled at a compounding pharmacy in Framingham, Mass., because it was tainted with a form of fungus.

The steroid, which had been widely distributed, including to multiple Pain Care clinics in New Hampshire – one of them in Merrimack – was pulled immediately, but the damage was already done. Thousands of people around the country were on alert for symptoms of meningitis and over the course of several weeks, 37 people died of fungal meningitis and more than 590 were infected.

At least 13 New Hampshire residents were diagnosed in the meningitis outbreak.

Two weeks ago, it was learned that some patients who had been diagnosed with fungal meningitis were also exhibiting a secondary illness that the Centers for Disease Control said was brought on by the meningitis.

Some patients are also developing an epidural abscess, which is a collection of pus between the outer covering of the brain and spinal cord and the bones of the skull or spine, CNN reported.

As a result, New England Compounding Pharmacy was shut down and the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy permanently revoked the company's license. Lawsuits were being filed by private parties almost immediately after the news broke, but it's still unclear what further punitive action may be taken against the makers of the steroid as this case continues to unfold.

Read more about the fungal meningitis outbreak here.

Catch up on our other stories of the year:

6. Teacher Awarded for Leadership in Science

7. Building a Sense of Community

8. Gone too soon

 9. Jehovah's Witnesses Get OK to Build