Officials in Pennsylvania have identified the first case of fungal meningitis in the state. A patient in Altoona received an injection of steroids at a pain clinic for back pain and later developed symptoms of meningitis. The meningitis is being caused by a fungus that was in the steroid, methylprednisolone acetate.

It is being linked to a pharmacy in Massachusetts, the New England Compounding Center is responsible for the contaminated vials and is recalling all of its products and putting a stop to production while under investigation. Compounding pharmacies do not have the same restrictions as regular pharmacies and often times get over looked.

The outbreak has reached various states in the U.S., creating over 200 cases and 15 deaths. The NECC knows it had shipped out over 17,000 vials, 14,000 are believed to be contaminated, but no one knows how many of the unused vials are still in clinics and offices.

Read the full story here. http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/10/15/pa-reports-first-meningitis-outbreak-in-altoona/