OCALA, Fla. – An 83-year old man in Marion County has died as a result of the fungal meningitis outbreak, the second fatality in the state, according to the Florida Health Department.
Health officials said the man, whose name has not been released, was injected with one of the contaminated lots of methylprednisolone acetate from the New England Compounding Center.
Health officials have said the second victim received the injection from the Marion Pain Management Center in Ocala, unlike the first victim.
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"Our deepest sympathies are with his family and friends during this very difficult time," said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. "Across the country we are seeing the number of cases increase, so it is not unexpected that Florida's case count will rise."
A 70-year-old man who died in July in Marion County, prior to the discovery of the contaminated lots of methylprednisolone acetate used for epidural back injections, was the first fatality in Florida, health officials said.
The total meningitis cases in the state has increased to seven with an additional 48-year-old man receiving treatment in Marion County.
Nationwide, the number of cases of fungal meningitis since the outbreak is 170 with 14 deaths across 11 states.
The specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts has recalled the steroid that was sent to clinics in 23 states, as well as everything else it makes.
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