As the number of illnesses and deaths from fungal meningitis continues to rise, a growing number of lawsuits are being filed against the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in states across the country. The most recent estimate by public health officials bring the number of confirmed fungal meningitis cases to at least 230, and at …
As the number of illnesses and deaths from fungal meningitis continues to rise, a growing number of lawsuits are being filed against the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in states across the country. The most recent estimate by public health officials bring the number of confirmed fungal meningitis cases to at least 230, and at least 15 people have died after receiving contaminated epidural injections mixed by the Massachusetts-based compounding pharmacy. As many as six fungal meningitis lawsuits have already been filed on behalf of individuals around the U.S. who are currently experiencing symptoms of fungal meningitis, and those whose symptoms proved to be fatal. There are confirmed complaints in Tennessee, Florida, Michigan and Minnesota so far, and the litigation is expected to continue its incline in the coming months, as more information is released about the outbreak. Contact our qualified meningitis outbreak lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center today to discuss your legal options.
Lawsuits for Meningitis Illnesses, Deaths and Fear
The first tainted steroid injection lawsuit was filed in Minnesota by Barbe Puro, and sought class action status to represent all of the estimated 1,000 Minnesota residents who were administered potentially contaminated epidural injections across the state. Another Minnesota resident, Rosalinda Edwards, has also since filed a claim. Tennessee remains at the center of the public health crisis, with 61 confirmed cases of fungal meningitis and eight reported meningitis-related deaths to date – more than any other U.S. state. Tennessee resident Janet Russell recently filed a lawsuit against NECC for its tainted steroid injection. All of the lawsuits in the affected states so far allege that NECC sold defective medications that put plaintiffs at risk of contracting meningitis, a potentially deadly disease that causes inflammation in the brain and spine. Not all of the complaints involve individuals with confirmed cases of meningitis though; some people are suing the compounding pharmacy for the fear and pain and suffering caused by the exposure.
Our Meningitis Outbreak Attorneys Can Help
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that as many as 14,000 people were exposed to the recalled steroid injection, believed to be contaminated with a type of fungus called exserohilum. The agency expects the number of illnesses and fatalities caused by the tainted injection to increase over the next month or so, due to the fact that fungal meningitis symptoms can take a considerable amount of time to present themselves. Although there aren’t yet any confirmed fungal meningitis cases in Oklahoma, there is no telling how many Oklahomans have been exposed and may be diagnosed with the disease in the near future. For this reason, it is extremely important to enlist the help of our qualified meningitis outbreak attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center today, if you believe you may have been exposed to a tainted steroid injection manufactured by the compounding pharmacy at the center of the crisis. With the help of our knowledgeable meningitis outbreak lawyers, you can seek damages for pain and suffering related to the outbreak, and you can work to hold NECC liable for it’s dangerous drug.