Drug Recalled Over Suspected Meningitis Outbreak in US

The FDA has ordered recall of contaminated injectable medications suspected to a deadly outbreak of meningitis which claimed five lives and sickened 34 others in six US states.

Public health officials were contacting patients in 23 states who received the potentially contaminated steroid injection -- typically for back pain -- and urging them to be tested for the rare fungal infection.

Meningitis - Causes - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs
Meninges are the three layers of membrane that cover the brain and infection of the cerebrospinal fluid between them causes meningitis the disease of the meninges.

The hardest-hit state was Tennessee, where health officials said Friday the number of cases had risen to 29, including five deaths.

"I want to again express our sincere sympathy to the patients, family, and friends who've become victims of this tragic situation," state health commissioner John Dreyzehner said at a press conference.

Due to the long incubation period, health officials were urging patients who had received the injection as far back as July 1 to contact their doctors for testing.

Hib Vaccine - Types, Dosage Schedule, Contraindications and Side Effects
The Hib vaccine protects children against infections like meningitis and pneumonia that are caused by the Haemophilus influenzae type b bacterium.

Fungal meningitis -- which inflames the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord -- is a rare infection which often goes undetected until it's too late because its flu-like symptoms can be mild at first.

Early detection and treatment -- which requires a hospital stay to administer intravenous anti-fungal medications -- can prevent the infection from causing permanent damage.

$35 billion needed globally for immunization
Globally $35 billion will be required for immunization in the next ten years to save an additional ten million lives.

An initial investigation found that the Tennessee clinicians who administered the contaminated drug "had no way of knowing" there was anything wrong with it and found "no lapses" in their standards, Dreyzehner said.

"The evidence indicates this is a product issue," he told reporters.

Africa Launches Huge Immunization Campaign Against Meningitis
Seven African countries have launched a massive vaccination campaign on Thursday in a bid to protect 50 million people against meningitis.

The Food and Drug Administration said it has detected a fungal contaminant in a sealed vial of the drug produced by the New England Compounding Center.

While further testing is required to confirm it was the source of the outbreak, the company has issued a recall of all of its products and shut down all operations.

Source-AFP