New York State Department of Health Statement on Multistate Fungal Meningitis Outbreak

ALBANY, N.Y. (October 5, 2012) - In response to a nationwide outbreak of meningitis, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) is coordinating with the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on a multistate investigation of meningitis among patients who received epidural steroid injections.

At present, there are no confirmed or suspected cases of fungal meningitis in New York State. This form of meningitis is not spread person-to-person.

Three different sites in New York State received shipments of the implicated steroids. The New York State Department of Health has been working closely with affected site and local health departments. Each facility immediately pulled the steroids and contacted patients who were potentially exposed. The three New York sites are: Butani, Sunil H. Physician PC, Mineola; Obosa Medical Services, Mount Vernon; & Rochester Brain and Spine, Rochester.

DOH has just been made aware of a broader recall involving products from New England Compounding Center. DOH is working with the CDC and the FDA to determine the broader distribution to protect the health and safety of New Yorkers. Information on the broader recall is available at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm322734.htm.

The CDC released today the name of the facilities that received the implicated steroid lots. Please visit the CDC website for the names of the facilities and for the latest information on the multistate meningitis outbreak http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html.