Update Monday, October 8, 5:04 p.m.
The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) now reports 22 confirmed cases of fungal meningitis in Michigan.
From the MDCH:
As this is a developing investigation, the number of cases is expected to increase. The age range of current identified cases is 38-89 years old. Of the two deaths, both were females ages 56 and 67. Locations of residence have yet to be reported. All cases are linked to the four facilities in Michigan that received a potentially contaminated product, suspected to be the cause of the outbreak.
Update Monday, October 8, 8:47 a.m.
Michigan is second only to Tennessee in the number of cases reported. The outbreak is linked to an injectable steroid. From the CDC:
At this point, the original source of the outbreak has not been determined. However, injectable steroid medication has been linked to the outbreak. The lots of medication that were given to patients have been recalled by the manufacturer. The type of epidural medication given to patients affected by this outbreak is not the same type of medication as that given to women during childbirth.
Number of cases reported as of Oct. 7:
- Tennessee: 32 cases, including 3 deaths
- Michigan: 20 cases, including 2 deaths
- Virginia: 18 cases, including 1 death
- Indiana: 8 cases
- Florida: 4 cases
- Maryland: 3 cases, including 1 death
- Minnesota: 3 cases
- North Carolina: 2 cases
- Ohio: 1 case
Sunday, October 7, 3:31 p.m.
Officials say there are at least 20 confirmed cases of meningitis in Michigan, including two deaths.
The number of cases reported Sunday was up from eight reported Saturday. The Michigan Department of Community Health says it's unable to release details about the deaths until after the weekend.
The meningitis outbreak has been linked to a steroid produced by a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts. The steroid has been recalled, and officials have been scrambling to notify anyone who may have been injected with it.
At least four places in Michigan received shipments of the medication: Michigan Neurosurgical Institute in Grand Blanc; Michigan Pain Specialists in Brighton; Neuromuscular & Rehabilitation in Traverse City; and Southeast Michigan Surgical Hospital in Warren.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 91 cases nationally.
