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30 Now Dead in Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Linked to Contaminated Steroid Shots Made by Framingham, Massachusetts Compounding Pharmacy

The CDC is reporting that the death toll in the ongoing fungal meningitis outbreak involving tainted steroid injections is now at 30, while the number of those afflicted is at 419 (those affected by related joint infections are also included in this number). The steroid shots were used for treating back pain, as well as joint problems.

According to the New York Times, doctors that have been treating patients afflicted in this outbreak are seeing certain worrying complications in some, including epidural abscess in the area of the spine where the shot was administered and arachnoiditis, involving spinal inflammation. In Massachusetts, please contact our Boston fungal meningitis law firm if you or someone you love became afflicted after receiving a methylprednisolone acetate injection.

The Boston Globe reports that right before the national outbreak erupted, the New England Compounding Center, which is based in Framingham, Massachusetts, had sent out a “Quality Assurance Report Card” to clients touting it’s labs’ cleanliness even though internal tests showed contamination that was widespread. Two of the three steroid lots involved in the outbreak were made during the period noted in the report card, which claims that the pharmacy’s “extensive” testing of products for microbial contaminants and sterility had a 100% success rate.

Fungal Meningitis Lawsuits
Already, afflicted patients are filing dangerous drug lawsuits, as have some of the families who lost loved ones. Drug manufacturers are supposed to make sure their products are safe for use and are free from any contaminants that could cause serious health complications. This includes exercising the necessary care in preparation and during packaging and maintaining the necessary sanitary conditions and procedures to run a clean operation.

Chasing Clues to Detect Outbreak, NY Times, November 5, 2012

Meningitis outbreak toll rises as complications surface, CIDRAP, November 5, 2012

Despite bacteria in labs, a clean pharmacy report, The Boston Globe, October 31, 2012

More Blog Posts:
At Least 10 Dangerous Drug Lawsuits Filed Against Framingham, Massachusetts Compound Pharmacy as Death Toll from Fungal Meningitis Hits 23, 294 Afflicted, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, October 22, 2012

Meningitis Outbreak Linked to Massachusetts Pharma Company, Drug Injury Lawyers Blog, October 16, 2012

Framingham, Massachusetts Compounding Pharmacy Linked to Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Had Settled Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Similar Allegations in 2007, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, October 12, 2012

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