Nationwide Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Reaches Illinois
By: Alex de Leon
Updated: October 15, 2012
The nationwide outbreak of fungal meningitis hits Illinois.
The CDC reported one person in Chicago is infected. The patient got meningitis from a contaminated epidural injection. There have been concerns the disease could spiral out of control in Illinois.
But, doctors at OSF Saint Anthony say not to worry. "You can not contract this as you would bacterial meningitis" says Dr. Ken Barrick. "There really is little to no concern unless you were treated with a spinal steroid injection from a particular lot of steroids from a particular company."
The steroid was made in Massachusetts. Nationwide, 200 people are sick in more than a dozen states, 15 have died.
The CDC reported one person in Chicago is infected. The patient got meningitis from a contaminated epidural injection. There have been concerns the disease could spiral out of control in Illinois.
But, doctors at OSF Saint Anthony say not to worry. "You can not contract this as you would bacterial meningitis" says Dr. Ken Barrick. "There really is little to no concern unless you were treated with a spinal steroid injection from a particular lot of steroids from a particular company."
The steroid was made in Massachusetts. Nationwide, 200 people are sick in more than a dozen states, 15 have died.
