UNDATED (WJRT) -
(10/24/12) - There were several developments related to the nationwide fungal
meningitis outbreak Wednesday afternoon.
First, a Michigan man whose wife died of the illness, says he's now being
treated for similar symptoms.
George Cary of Livingston County says he's one of the new cases being
reported here in Michigan. If his name sounds familiar, it's because George
spoke out after his wife Lilian died back on Sept. 30.
Lilian had been treated for back and neck pain at a Brighton-area clinic.
George received the same steroid treatment. He was tested for meningitis in
early October. Initial reports showed there was no evidence he had been
infected. But the 65-year-old now reports he began having severe headaches on
Friday. He remains hospitalized, but says he is feeling "much better" after
three days of treatments.
Also new, the number of cases nationwide, is once again growing.
Seventeen states are now reporting infections. That's up one from Tuesday.
Georgia was added to the list Wednesday. Health officials say 312 people have
been infected, including 24 deaths.
Also developing, Michigan has now overtaken Tennessee as the state with the
most meningitis cases.
Michigan is now reporting 73 people have been infected. That's up five from
the day before. Of those 73 cases, five people have died after being treated
with tainted steroid shots made by a pharmacy in Massachusetts.
The Public Information Officer with the Michigan Department of Community
Health says they expect the number of cases to increase into November. Angela
Minicuci says most fungal meningitis cases show up one to four weeks after the
shot was given. But she adds people could show symptoms even later. "In rare
cases, we've seen symptoms develop a little over a month after receiving an
injection, in some cases we've even seen them in less than a week. So this
particular fungus, we're still trying to get a good handle on it," Minicuci
said.
In Michigan more than 1,900 people were treated with the tainted steroid shot
after four clinics. Some received their shots in early October.
