Meningitis Outbreak Not Contageous
By: Sophie Nielsen-Kolding WMBD/WYZZ TV
Updated: October 4, 2012
PEORIA- At least five people are dead and 35 are sick after the outbreak of a rare form of meningitis across five states.
There have been no reported cases in Illinois, but pharmacist Jennifer Siefert at Preckshot Professional Pharmacy in Peoria Heights said people should still be aware of the illness. It's fungal meningitis, not bacterial, which means it's not contagious.
People are reportedly getting sick because of an infected batch of steroid injections from Massachusetts that help ease pain. Siefert said people shouldn't worry, instead just become informed about where their medicine comes from.
"So again I guess if there were questions on behalf of the patient, they could contact the clinic or the doctor where they may be receiving spinal injections. There are several of those throughout the state. And they could at least make that inquiry, ask them, where do they get their medications and is there any reason for concern," Siefert said.
The meningitis vaccine does not prevent this kind of fungal meningitis.
There have been no reported cases in Illinois, but pharmacist Jennifer Siefert at Preckshot Professional Pharmacy in Peoria Heights said people should still be aware of the illness. It's fungal meningitis, not bacterial, which means it's not contagious.
People are reportedly getting sick because of an infected batch of steroid injections from Massachusetts that help ease pain. Siefert said people shouldn't worry, instead just become informed about where their medicine comes from.
"So again I guess if there were questions on behalf of the patient, they could contact the clinic or the doctor where they may be receiving spinal injections. There are several of those throughout the state. And they could at least make that inquiry, ask them, where do they get their medications and is there any reason for concern," Siefert said.
The meningitis vaccine does not prevent this kind of fungal meningitis.
