Alaska Recieves Injectable Drugs from Suspect Pharmacy Linked to Meningitis Outbreak

Tools

by Associated Press
by Whitney LB Miller

Story Created: Oct 16, 2012 at 10:30 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Oct 16, 2012 at 10:31 PM AKDT

   
ANCHORAGE - State health officials say providers in Alaska have received drugs from the Massachusetts pharmacy behind the deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis.
   
Alaska Department of Health spokesman Greg Wilkinson says Alaska providers have not received any of the implicated injectable steroid that has been linked to the deaths of at least 16 people and the illnesses of more than 200 others in other states.
   
He says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising health providers nationwide to contact patients who have received any injectable drugs from the New England Compounding Center, located in Framingham, Mass., after May 21. Wilkinson says the move is precautionary.
   
Meningitis is an infection of membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, severe headache, sensitivity to lights and changes mental status.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Poll

Should there be more safety precautions in place during Arctic Man?

  • Yes
  • No

Tonight on Your Alaska Link