Web Extra: Fungal Meningitis Outbreak, What You Need to Know
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: October 17, 2012
The fungal meningitis outbreak that has killed at least 19 people and infected nearly 250 more is alarming many Americans.
The outbreak has been linked to contaminated epidural steroid shots made by a Massachusetts company.
They were shipped to nearly half the country. but not Arkansas.
Here's what you need to know:
Click here to read Frequently Asked Questions for Patients: Multistate Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Investigation from the Centers for Disease Control.
The outbreak has been linked to contaminated epidural steroid shots made by a Massachusetts company.
They were shipped to nearly half the country. but not Arkansas.
Here's what you need to know:
- You only need to be nervous about this if you received one of these shots
- People who were infected are NOT contagious. You can't get this form of meningitis from touching or being near an infected patient.
- If you had one of these kinds of steroid shots within the last 1-4 weeks and you have symptoms like headache and nausea get yourself to a doctor.
- Other symptoms: stiff neck, fever, chills, and for some people, trouble walking or stroke-like symptoms.
- Affected medicine is not on the market anymore, so no new infections are expected, but more cases may be diagnosed as people who got the shot come forward.
Click here to read Frequently Asked Questions for Patients: Multistate Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Investigation from the Centers for Disease Control.
