CDC: Number of reported meningitis cases now at 105 - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

There was a major jump over the weekend in the number of Americans sickened by a rare form of fungal meningitis.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now says 105 people in nine states have been sickened, and eight have died.
       
So far, no cases have been reported in Georgia, but steroid injections linked to the outbreak were shipped to a Macon clinic.

The CDC says we're seeing a jump in cases because they're working with 23 state health departments to reach thousands of Americans who received one of these back pain injections.

With more than 100 confirmed cases of a rare form of fungal meningitis, Dr. John Jernigan, a medical epidemiologist on the CDC team investigating this outbreak, says his agency is working with state health officials to track down as many as 13,000 Americans who may have received a contaminated shot for back pain.  

"I think it's important to note that so far, not all of those patients have become ill," Dr. Jernigan told FOX 5.  "In fact, we think at this time the vast majority of patients have not developed signs of meningitis."

But Dr. Jernigan says patients still need to be vigilant about watching for the first signs of meningitis, which is an inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord.

"And should they develop symptoms of headache, or fever, or stiff neck, or sudden onset of slurred speech or weakness, they should contact their physician to see if they should be evaluated," Dr. Jernigan advised.

Jernigan says in every case identified so far, the patient received an epidural injection from one of three lots of vials produced by a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy.

"And when the patient received the injection in their back for treatment of back pain, the infection was introduced, and then found its way into the central nervous system, where it's causing the syndrome of meningitis," said Dr. Jernigan.

There may be more than one fungus involved in this outbreak, and Dr. Jernigan says not all of the vials may have been evenly contaminated.

"Some vials may have a greater load of organisms than others, and the patients who received those vials may be at increased risk.  So, we just don't know yet. The investigation for that is ongoing."
 
Fungal meningitis is very difficult to treat, but the earlier that you can detect it and start the patient on anti-fungal medications, the better.  Dr. Jernigan says it's really important for both patients and clinics to be vigilant about getting checked out.