CONCORD, N.H. (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced on Saturday that they have discovered four cases related to the national outbreak of fungal meningitis associated with the Framingham facility.
According to the DHHS, these cases are the first in New Hampshire. The cases under investigation include three males and one female, all between 40 and 60-years-old.
To date, nationally there have been 197 cases, including 14 deaths in 15 states.
In New Hampshire the medication believed to be related to this outbreak was only distributed to Pain Care LLC's Somersworth, Merrimack, and Newington locations. Pain Care, LLC has identified 741 patients who may have been exposed to the recalled product.
The New England Compounding Center has voluntarily recalled all products it has produced since January 2012; however, all cases thus far have resulted after injections of methylprednisolone acetate, which are used primarily for pain management.
DPHS is working with Pain Care, LLC to ensure that all patients potentially exposed are notified.
Patients diagnosed with this infection as part of this outbreak may present with fungal meningitis, epidural abscess, stroke or joint symptoms associated with the injected medication.
The investigation remains active and information on cases continues to be gathered to understand the extent of this outbreak.
For more information visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/hai or the DHHS website at www.dhhs.nh.gov or call the DPHS Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at 603-271-4496.