The CDC responded to the large fungal meningitis outbreak
On Nov. 15, 2012, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) responded to the fungal meningitis outbreak, which was the largest healthcare-associated outbreak in U.S. history at that time.
As of Nov. 14, a total of 461 cases, including 32 deaths, had been reported in 19 states. The cases included fungal meningitis, stroke, or other central nervous system-related infections plus 10 peripheral joint infections (i.e. knee, hip, shoulder, elbow).
The Tennessee Department of Health (TN DOH) identified and sounded the alarm on the initial cluster of cases. The Virginia Department of Health laboratory was the first to identify the very rare fungal pathogen, Exserohilum.
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Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Credit: Photo: Mcroscopic image of meningitis (black objects) in an examination of fungal infected brain tissue from patients with clinical cases of meningitis. Courtesy: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
