According to multiple news outlets, steroids often injected into the spine as a painkiller were contaminated and have caused 8 deaths and over 100 non fatal cases of fungal meningitis so far.  Meningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.  Patients have shown symptoms from one to four weeks after receiving the steroid injections.  Reports indicate that the producer of the drug that is causing the meningitis outbreak is New England Compounding Center, Inc.

According to the Massachusetts Health Department, 17,676 vials of the methylprednisolone acetate (80mg/ml) were sent to 76 healthcare providers in 23 states between July and September of this year.  The drug was recalled on September 26, 2012.  The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has published a list of health care facilities that have received shipments of the drug – http://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/meningitis-facilities-map.html.

As a Florida resident and a Miami Personal Injury and Wrongful Death attorney, it is frightening that one of the medical providers that received a shipment of the tainted steroid is in Miami and several more throughout the state of Florida.  If you believe you have received a dose of the contaminated steroid, you should contact the health care provider that gave you the injection.  The CDC has announced a Multistate Meningitis Outbreak Investigation that contains some instruction – http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html.

If you or a family member in Florida has been affected by this outbreak, you may want to speak with a qualified Miami Personal Injury Lawyer regarding you or your family members Personal Injury or Wrongful Death Case.