Second Meningitis Case Found In Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) — The Minnesota Department of Health has identified a second meningitis case in a patient treated with injectable steroids from a pharmacy in Massachusetts.

Like the first case, the new case involves a woman in her 40s, who was evaluated after having possible symptoms of meningitis. Like the first patient, she was hospitalized, and is being treated with antibiotic and antifungal drugs.

Spokesman Buddy Ferguson said they may see additional cases as they proceed with the task of notifying approximately 950 Minnesota patients who were treated with steroid products produced by the New England Compounding Center.

"It's really very, very difficult to say," Ferguson said. "There certainly could be more. Again, we have about 2/3 of the list to go through."

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday, steroid products produced by the New England Compounding Center had been linked to 47 cases of fungal meningitis in seven states. Five people have died. The Minnesota cases are not included in those Friday statistics.

To learn more, visit the health department website.

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