Meningitis deaths reach 11 in Michigan

Published 11:11 am Friday, January 4, 2013

The death toll is now 11 for the number of meningitis deaths in Michigan associated with tainted steroid injections, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health.

Of the 11 deaths, one is associated with stroke, two are associated with an epidural abscess, and eight are among patients counted as meningitis cases.

These figures come from a multi-state investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Three additional Michigan resident deaths are being counted as an Indiana cases because that is where treatment occurred.

Ten of the 11 reported dead are female. Ages range from 50 to 88.

So far, 233 total cases have been reported in Michigan.

Additional details about the Michigan deaths:

• Washtenaw County – 87 year old woman

• Livingston County – 75 year old woman

• Livingston County – 50 year old woman

• Ingham County – 88 year old woman

• Charlevoix County – 81 year old woman

• Wayne County – 64 year old woman

• Livingston County – 79 year old woman

• Washtenaw County – 61 year old man

• Genesee County – 56 year old woman

• Livingston County – 67 year old woman

• Washtenaw County – 78 year old woman

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration are coordinating a multi-state investigation of meningitis among patients who had received steroid injections, the contaminated product reported to be the cause of the outbreak. Cases of illness have been reported in Michigan and a response is being coordinated between local public health, the four Michigan facilities in receipt of the recalled product and the Michigan Department of Community Health.