October 11th, 2012
03:11 PM ET

14 confirmed fungal meningitis deaths, CDC says

The Centers for Disease Control has  released new numbers regarding the fungal meningitis outbreak.

There are now 170 confirmed cases, up from 137. The number of deaths has increased from 12 to 14.

In light of the new numbers, we wanted to share a bit of helpful information for you about the outbreak and help explain what you need to know.

The recent outbreak is linked to injections developed at a compounding center. So, what is that, and why are we getting medications from them?

Many of our readers have had a lot of questions about the outbreak. We've answered them here and we hope they will be helpful for you. 

Here's some more information on the outbreak:

Meningitis outbreak highlights failed oversight efforts

One woman's fight for compounding pharmacy guidelines

soundoff (50 Responses)
  1. Jim

    I'm a firefighter too. I look just like Patrick.

    October 12, 2012 at 12:00 pm | Report abuse |
  2. saywhat

    Good morning to you too@banasy. Hope all you good folks have a fabulous weekend.

    October 12, 2012 at 12:33 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Philip

    Gm @saywhat, 'nasy, all. 🙂 Alice C now, eh? Where ya from? Come here often?
    There is a method to my madness @saywhat. You do your saywhating and I'll do my philiping. 🙂
    "There is a bit of madness in any true patriot." -ancient writing

    October 12, 2012 at 12:48 pm | Report abuse |
    • saywhat

      Thanks @ Philip
      Will keep that in mind. And a good Philipping to you, my friend.
      @Kenny Rogers says you are an interesting man and that you are without any doubt.

      October 12, 2012 at 2:43 pm | Report abuse |
  4. First Responder w/no hair?

    Really? I've only known one chemotherapy victim...Chuck C. Good man, knew him well working the oilfields of Texas years ago. He didn't do much oilfield trashing once he lost his hairs. He didn't have many to lose to begin with.
    Is there a video available? (of a chemo fireman in action)

    October 12, 2012 at 12:54 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Yes, Philip, he's recovering from cancer.
      Take from that what you care to.
      TH isn't your troll/hijacker.

      As for videos of his treatment, that's kind of a strange request; I would say it is not anyone'e business.

      October 12, 2012 at 1:21 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Oh, and good afternoon, 'lip.

      October 12, 2012 at 1:23 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Philip

    'lip is to 'asy, Mrs. Banas. Did you know of the Chicago CEO story before it was blogged here?
    Have you figured-out the main differences between a blog and a thread yet?

    October 12, 2012 at 1:33 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      He disappeared for a reason, 'lip.
      Ask yourself why, since you think you have all the answers.
      And yes, I knew about the Chicago story before it was posted, being as I live in the Chicago area.
      I have no idea why, when someone tries to tell you something, you get all bent out of shape, but it is a dominant feature that is displayed when anyone tries to hold a conversation with you, and perhaps that is the reason why people are reluctant to do so, man.
      Not what you say, but the condescendingly immature way you say it.
      And, according to your revisionist view of history, he disappeared after you told him all about 9/11...which is it?
      Any more tedious one-up questioning, or are we done with this?

      October 12, 2012 at 1:54 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Philip

    I was the first person here who became aware of his cancer, lady. He told me personally, and I shared with him the story of Michael Jordon's grandmother who went to Mexico for alternative healing of cancers. By the time she got there, it was too late to stip the human fluke from hatching eggs that ate her alive.
    Username 'tomcat' dissapeared after that.

    October 12, 2012 at 1:38 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Philip

    *it was too late to simply remove Mrs. Jordan from her cancer-causing environment that was stimulating fluke eggs to hatch inside of her instead of naturally hatching-out in her excerement. (how soil is able to metabilze human dung into fertilizer, otherwise, dung kills plants)

    October 12, 2012 at 1:43 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Philip

    Chemotherapy is designed to kill flatworm eggs that mistake undigested red meat stuck in our bellies for dung, and so hatch-out and go in search of dead or injured flesh to consume and turn-into fertilizer.
    Your body produces prions to deal with this catastrophic disaster. Pharmaceuticals kill prions. Like dummies who blame the housefly for sh/t on the floor. Natures rescuers are killed, and the meat rots and the sh/t stinks.

    October 12, 2012 at 1:55 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Chemotherapy is also designed to kill cancer, and when all of the options are weighed, may be the better course of action for the patient, depending on the type of cancer and how aggressive it is.
      Only the doctor, oncologist, and the patient are qualified to decide that.

      October 12, 2012 at 8:41 pm | Report abuse |
  9. elm

    "Save a flatworm, die of cancer". Catchy slogan. And what about the vegetarians? Their waste smells like roses? Lol! I hope nobody takes this whole thread about cancer seriously: they'll DIE!

    October 13, 2012 at 12:54 pm | Report abuse |
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