5 dead, dozens sick after meningitis outbreak

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Indiana's Department Of Health confirmed Thursday one case of a rare form of fungal meningitis tied to a recalled back pain medication was given to a patient at a health care provider in the state.

Health officials reported on a state website that six Indiana health facilities received batches of back pain medication recently recalled by a pharmacy in Massachusetts, which has been linked to a widening outbreak that's sickened dozens of people in six states. Five deaths have been reported; none in Indiana.

The drug was made by a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts that issued a recall last week and has shut down operations. The type of meningitis involved is not contagious like the more common forms. This type is caused by a fungus often found in leaf mold. Health officials suspect it may have been in the steroid.

The six Indiana facilities that received the medication are: Ambulatory Care Center LLP in Evansville; the Fort Wayne Physical Medicine; the OSMC Outpatient Surgery Center in Elkhart; the South Bend Clinic; Union Hospital in Terre Haute and Wellspring in Columbus.

News 10 Thursday reached out to Union Hospital in Terre Haute; "We have a list of the patients who received this, we are calling them personally so they are aware of the problem and can look for symptoms" said Kim Perkins, Union's Director of Public Relations. About 100 doses of the steroid were given to patients, said officials. Of those 100 doses, it wasn't immediately clear how many patients were impacted by the injections. Some patients received multiple shots, said officials.

At this point in time, officials believe, Union's patients who received the steroid injection were not in any immediate danger.

EDITORS NOTE: News 10 Producer Eric Stidman contributed to Associated Press reports in this article.