By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Can Thinking Younger Make You Live Longer?
    April 20, 2011
    Image
    Obesity’s Outlook Unchanged
    June 13, 2011
    When It’s An Emergency Elderly Not Treated As Well in Hospitals
    July 16, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Michigan’s Fungal Meningitis Outbreak to Be Investigated by State and Federal Authorities
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Public Health > Michigan’s Fungal Meningitis Outbreak to Be Investigated by State and Federal Authorities
NewsPublic HealthSpecialties

Michigan’s Fungal Meningitis Outbreak to Be Investigated by State and Federal Authorities

Susan Scutti
Last updated: November 28, 2013 9:11 am
Susan Scutti
Share
4 Min Read
fungal meningitis outbreak
SHARE

fungal meningitis outbreakA criminal investigation into last year’s deadly fungal meningitis outbreak may someday secure justice for victims.

fungal meningitis outbreakA criminal investigation into last year’s deadly fungal meningitis outbreak may someday secure justice for victims. According to Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, his office and federal authorities are continuing to coordinate a probe into the outbreak that killed 64 people nationwide as a result of contaminated injectable steroid medications distributed by New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Mass. No one has yet been charged in the case.

Asked whether the Michigan leg of the investigation may end without charges, Schuette declined to answer, according to the Associated Press. Meanwhile, Michigan — which counted 22 deaths due to the outbreak — has decided to let its grand jury take a “temporary pause,” Schuette announced in Detroit on Monday. The grand jury’s six-month term is set to expire soon, though a judge could call it back. At least four clinics in the state treated patients with tainted steroids obtained from NECC. In the absence of indictments, Schuette spoke of an agreement struck with the U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, Carmen Ortiz, that ensures state investigators have access to evidence that a federal grand jury in Boston is seeing, and vice versa. “This will help us reach our mutual goal: to secure justice for victims of fungal meningitis,” Schuette told CNN. “By working together we can ensure our investigative efforts are not duplicated.”

NECC filed for bankruptcy in December last year. The Massachusetts state pharmacy board voted to permanently revoke the company’s license as well as the licenses of the company’s three principal pharmacists.

The 2012 Outbreak

Since Sept. 2012, when the tainted steroids were first discovered, 751 people in 20 states, including 264 in Michigan, developed fungal meningitis or other infections. Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes (known as meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Sixty-four people died in last year’s outbreak after using contaminated drugs produced by NECC, a compounding pharmacy that custom-makes medications.

On Sept. 26, 2012, NECC voluntarily recalled three lots of methylprednisolone acetate, an injectable steroid that is typically used for its anti-inflammatory effects, and in this case, causing fungal meningitis and other infections. As confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the fungus Exserohilum rostratum was identified in two different lots of  NECC-supplied methylprednisolone acetate, while two other types of fungus not known to be human pathogens, Rhodotorula laryngis and Rhizopus stolonifer, were also found in the product. On Oct. 6, NECC expanded its recall to include all products in circulation that were distributed from its Framingham facility.

Public health authorities estimate that nearly 14,000 people in 23 states, including an estimated 11,000 who received shots for back or neck pain, were exposed to mold-tainted doses of methylprednisolone. Recently, the FBI asked anyone who received one of the tainted injections to fill out a questionnaire and answer whether they believe another medication distributed by NECC caused harm to themselves or their family. Last week, the U.S. Senate approved legislation clarifying federal authority over compounding pharmacies such as NECC — the bill awaits presidential approval, according to The New York Times. 

(shutterstock)

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Computer Vision Syndrome
News

5 Activities That’ll Make You Smarter

April 15, 2018
wisdom teeth signs and removal
Dental healthSpecialties

4 Telltale Signs Your Wisdom Teeth Are Coming In

December 13, 2022
Dental healthSpecialties

Non-Dental Conditions That Your Dentist Could Uncover

August 16, 2020

Unnecessary Health Care Expenditures

September 13, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?