10/17/12 Update: Virginia public health officials announced today that another victim has died, bringing the total number of deaths from fungal meningitis in the state to two. Thirty-seven Virginia residents have been diagnosed with fungal meningitis.
As of October 17, 2012, 247 people nationwide have been diagnosed with fungal meningitis and 19 have died.
The FDA has identified the drugs believed to be responsible for the outbreak. The vast majority of the reported cases can be traced to epidural steroid injections of methylprednisolone acetate mixed by the NECC. However, the FDA has announced it is investigating whether two individuals who have been diagnosed with fungal meningitis may have contracted the illness from the NECC’s cardioplegic solution, a drug used during open heart surgery.
To read more about the fungal meningitis outbreak, click here.