NJ Health Officials Lower Number Of People Who Received Injection Linked To Meningitis Outbreak
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak has surpassed 100 confirmed cases, with at least eight fatalities.
But health officials in New Jersey have downgraded the number of people potentially infected.
WCBS 880's Monica Miller reports
Podcast
The revised figure now stands at 650, down from 1,000 potential cases, because health officials said they did not take into account that some patients receive multiple injections.
Health officials originally just counted the number of doses shipped to New Jersey, WCBS 880's Monica Miller reported.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked the outbreak to a steroid commonly used to treat back pain.
So far, no cases of the fungal meningitis have been reported in the Tri-State Area.
The Massachusetts company linked to the fungal meningitis outbreak has issued a voluntary recall of all of its products amid the growing number of reported cases.
Health officials cautioned more cases are possible because of the long incubation period of the fungal meningitis.
The New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Mass., which produced the steroid, is cooperating with investigators, according to health officials.
The steroid linked to the outbreak was shipped to 23 states but cases of the infection have been limited to nine states.
The deadly outbreak of meningitis has been detected in Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia, according to federal health officials.
Please share your comments below...
