(Indianapolis, Ind.) - A third Indiana death has been reported in connection with a fungal meningitis outbreak.

All three fatalities have been connected to a health clinic in Elkhart County in northern Indiana, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. Each of the people received injections of a recalled back pain medication from a health clinic there.

The latest death was an Indiana resident, which makes two state residents who have died, and one out of state resident, but who received the medication injection.

There have been 41 cases of fungal meningitis across Indiana with over 1,500 people exposed to the contaminated medication.

“Unfortunately the number of patients and victims has grown,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Gregory N. Larkin. “Every patient exposed in Indiana has been contacted by their healthcare provider.  Once again, we emphasize that fungal meningitis is not contagious as it is not transmitted from person to person.” 

Seventeen states are now involved in the multi-state outbreak of fungal meningitis from three lots of contaminated methylprednisolone acetate, or MPA, prepared by the New England Compounding Centerin Framingham, Massachusetts. All of the products have been voluntarily recalled.

To learn more about fungal meningitis, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/fungal.html.

The Food and Drug Administration has posted a list of facilities that have received NECC products.  That list can now be viewed at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/FungalMeningitis/default.htm.

LINKS:

1,568 In Ind. Exposed To Tainted Back Pain Drug

Fungal Meningitis Cases In Indiana Up To 30

28 Meningitis Cases In Indiana

15 Meningitis Cases Found In Indiana

Meningitis Cases In Indiana Up To 11

Meningitis Numbers In Indiana Increasing