Rare meningitis cases up to 26 in 5 states, 4 have died
The tragic impact of the fungal meningitis outbreaks continue to touch our fellow Tennesseans.
It appears that the matter has also now developed into a national health crisis causing twenty-six people to become sick and four of them dying in five states after they received spinal injections with contaminated medicine in them. The Food and Drug Administration has now identified the New England Compounding Center which has had a history of violation as the most likely source.
The FDA Public Affairs director, Erica V. Jefferson, stated that, they are “working with several state health departments and the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy on this issue and is still investigating the scope and cause of the outbreak of fungal meningitis.” On September 26th the New England Compounding Center voluntarily recalled three lots of Methylprednisolone (PF) 80mg/ml Injection produced at the Center. The lot numbers included in the recall are:
Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #05212012@68 Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #06292012@26 Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #08102012@51
The New England Compounding Center has stated that it is, “working closely with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and other regulators to identify the source of infection.” The Center immediately recalled the product as soon as they were notified about the contaminated medicine.
We can only hope that we can get some good answers on how this tragedy occurred so similar outbreaks can be avoided in the future.
Author Bio
Jim Higgins, founder of the Higgins Firm, is a seasoned personal injury attorney with deep roots in Nashville, Tennessee. A 4th generation Nashvillian, Jim carries on the legal legacy of his father, a judge for over 30 years. After graduating from the University of Memphis School of Law, Jim’s career began on the other side of the courtroom, defending insurance companies and learning their tactics for minimizing settlements. However, he soon realized his true calling was fighting for the rights of the injured, and for the past several years, he has exclusively represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
Since then, his dedication and skill have earned him membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization limited to attorneys who have secured million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients. Licensed to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, Jim focuses on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation cases. His exceptional work has been recognized by his peers, earning him a spot on the Super Lawyers list from 2021 to 2024, a distinction awarded to only a select group of accomplished attorneys in each state.
