Minnesota records 10th fungal meningitis case

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota on Tuesday confirmed its 10th case of fungal meningitis in a national outbreak tied to a tainted steroid from a Massachusetts pharmacy.

The patient is a Twin Cities area woman in her 60s, said Richard Danila, the assistant state epidemiologist. She is not hospitalized but is being treated, Danila said.

The woman received a spinal injection from one of the tainted batches of the steroid at Medical Advanced Pain Specialists, he said. Medical Advanced Pain Specialists is one of two chains of Minnesota clinics that received contaminated steroids from the New England Compounding Center. The department says around 985 MAPS and Minnesota Surgery Center patients received the injections.

Nationally, the tainted steroids have been linked to more than 350 illnesses and 25 deaths in 19 states.

Danila said there’s “a good chance” Minnesota will see more cases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the longest incubation time for a patient from this outbreak has been 66 days, but the risk is thought to drop after 42 days, he said. Given that MAPS was still injecting patients until about 35 days ago, it will take some time for the risk of new infections to drop off.

Some 111 Minnesota clinics have received various drugs from the NECC. Minnesota has had no confirmed cases of illnesses from other NECC drugs, but Danila said officials are “waiting for the other shoe to drop.” One Minnesotan who received one of the other drugs has tested negative but that case remains suspicious, he said. A negative test doesn’t necessarily mean a patient isn’t infected, and given the extent of the contamination inspectors found at NECC, it seems unlikely that only one of its products was tainted, Danila said.

SportsPlus

Mower County

City, county developing comprehensive plans with each other in mind

Mower County

Nomination period open for Pay It Forward

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Jeffer Lorenzo back in Mower County court, will face sentencing in March

News

Minnesota Democrats ask state Supreme Court to resolve state House power struggle

Business

At home holistically: Rosa Rodriguez opens brick and mortar location for Bruja Bonita

Mower County

PTTP kicks off 15th year of fighting cancer

Mower County

Rep. Bennett: Actions have consequences

Mower County

After several years of inviting visitors to Nativity collection, Austin couple says this is the last year

Education

School Board gets an update on reconstruction of Paulson Courts

Mower County

MMUA honors credentialed Austin journeyman lineworker Garitt Wytaske at annual conference

Mower County

Minnesotans fish free statewide with kids Jan. 18-20

Mower County

Minnesota Association of Townships announces 2025 Scholarship Program for high school juniors

News

U of M researchers examine preparedness for possibility of CWD jump to humans

News

University of Minnesota gets fast-tracked funding to survey wildlife for bird flu

News

House Democrats boycott opening day of Minnesota’s legislative session to thwart narrow GOP majority

Business

Hormel’s Snee to retire at end of fiscal year

News

Minnesota Legislature could be headed for a rocky start to its 2025 session

Mower County

Paint the Town Pink Kicks Off During Austin Area Chamber Business After Hours at The Hormel Institute

LeRoy

Mower County Sheriff’s Office investigating ATM theft in LeRoy

News

Milk from Minnesota dairy farms to undergo mandatory testing for bird flu

Mower County

Love the Work: Mike Hanson enters phased retirement having enjoyed his time with the county

Education

Ellis Middle School teacher nominated for STEM award

Mower County

Duplicate Bridge

Education

Education Briefs