Politics & Government

Fungal Meningitis Death Toll Rises to 12; Steroid Supplier Under Fire

Shots given in Shakopee, Fridley, Edina and Maple Grove lacked state OK, the Star Tribune reported.

Twelve people have now died in a fungal meningitis outbreak scientists blame on tainted injectible steroids made in Massachusetts and given to patients in 10 states, .

No Minnesotans have died. Three people in the state are infected and the Minnesota Department of Health has been working to alert more than 800 others who got the shots that they should get testing or treatment if symptoms arise.

Across the country, 137 people have confirmed infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Find out what's happening in Richfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fungal meningitis does not spread by person-to-person contact.

The compounding pharmacy that made the steroids, New England Compounding Center, was not licensed in Minnesota to sell the medication in bulk as a wholesaler, the Star Tribune reported Wednesday.

Find out what's happening in Richfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Here are the two providers in Minnesota that provided the tainted steroids and the locations of their six clinics:

More on New England Compounding Center from Framingham (MA) Patch:

  • Boston-Based Law Firm Reviewing Meningitis Claims
  • New England Compounding Center Establishes Recall Operations Center
  • LETTER: FDA Failed in its Oversight of Specialty Pharmacy in Meningitis Outbreak
  • New England Compounding Center Issues Nationwide Recall of All Products


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