TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — The rare fungal meningitis outbreak
that has killed seven people and sickened more than 60 across several
states has now been found in Ohio.
The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention said on Saturday it has confirmed one case in Ohio
although it did not say where. The Ohio Health Department said a
65-year-old man had been sickened, but it would not release his name or
hometown to protect his identity.
The man’s illness was likely
caused by a tainted steroid injection from a specialty pharmacy New
England Compounding Center in Massachusetts that has been linked to the
outbreak in other states, the health department said.
Federal health officials fear thousands could have been exposed. The latest cases were confirmed in
Minnesota and Ohio.
The
CDC has said inspectors found at least one sealed vial contaminated at
the Massachusetts company. It’s not yet clear how the fungus got into
the steroid, which is commonly used to treat back pain.
The steroid has been recalled and officials have told health professionals not to use anything made by
the pharmacy.
Four
health care clinics in Ohio used the recalled steroid injection. They
are Ortho-Spine Rehab Center in the Columbus suburb of Dublin,
Cincinnati Pain Management, Marion Pain Clinic, and BKC Pain
Specialists, also in Marion.
The health department has said the
facilities were working to contact patients who received the steroid
injection, which is often used to treat back pain.
An official
with Ortho-Spine Rehab Center said Friday that the clinic had used the
drug for at least seven years because it was cheaper than the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration’s version and was effective.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.