Fungal Meningitis Investigation Widens In Pennsylvania

By Molly Daly

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The investigation into the deadly fungal meningitis outbreak linked to a compounding pharmacy in New England has widened in Pennsylvania.

The meningitis outbreak stems from tainted steroids from the New England Compounding Center in Massachusetts. The FDA has raised concerns about all medications the company has produced, and is recommending that health officials across the country monitor patients who’ve had NECC’s drugs injected.

Pennsylvania authorities say the probe now includes more than 150 clinics and hospitals in the state, which are working to notify patients under the watchful eye of health officials (see related story).

So far, one Pennsylvanian has been hospitalized with fungal meningitis. Nationally, the outbreak has killed more than 20 people, and sickened close to 300.