Meningitis Outbreaks Not An Issue In SD
by Laura Monteverdi, Reporter
October 06, 2012 5:34 PM
An outbreak of fungal meningitis is causing concern across the United States. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says 60 cases have been reported in 9 states, including 7 deaths.
The rare form of meningitis has been linked to a steroid medication used to treat lower back pain.
Minnesota and Ohio are the latest states to report cases. Althought the death toll continues to rise, Dr. Tom Boetel, Medical Director of the Sanford Spine Center, says South Dakotans are not in danger.
Dr. Boetel said, "Nobody in the area that had a recent epidural steroid injection should be concerned because although we use steroid medication, we get our steroid medication from a different company."
So far, all of the cases have been traced to the New England Compounding Center in Massachusetts, which is currently under investigation.
The NECC has voluntarily shut down and recalled all of the medication.
