Meningitis Outbreak Kills Two, Shuts Down Saint Thomas Clinic

Two people are reportedly dead after contracting meningitis at Saint Thomas Outpatient Neurosurgery Center.  The Tennessee Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control announced that the clinic has been shut down pending an investigation.  According to the news release, 11 patients who were treated at the clinic have contracted meningitis.  The patients were seen at the clinic from July 30 to September 30 and received lumbar epidural steroid injections. The neurosurgery clinic will not reopen until the TDH and the CDC rule that the outbreak has been controlled.

Meningitis is an infection or inflammation process that affects the lining of the brain and central nervous system. The type of meningitis being contracted is known as fungal meningitis, which is not contagious from person to person, unlike the more commonly known bacterial meningitis.  The actual cause of the outbreak is still unknown.  There are common signs and symptoms of meningitis that patients of the clinic should know.  These include flu like symptoms, such as high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, and vomiting or nausea.

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