CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) -
The death toll up to 15 after tainted steroids shots from a Massachusetts pharmacy sparked a meningitis outbreak. While there are no confirmed cases in South Carolina, those steroid injections have been given to patients in the lowcountry.
The Center for Disease Control says 13,000 people have been injected with contaminated steroid shots.
The Massachusetts based pharmacy that made the tainted injections has since recalled the medications and surrendered its license.
Now, new medications are being recalled.
A Mt. Pleasant practice gave over 200 people the tainted shots and since has contacted everyone who has received one.
Even if you did get the contaminated medicine, doctors say there's no need to panic just yet. In fact, only 5 to 10 percent of people will contract the illness, according to doctors.
While it has been reported most compounding pharmacies are having no problems around the country, none of them are regulated by the FDA.
Dr. Heather Kokko says MUSC does not buy from compounding pharmacies and if a patient anywhere wants to know where their medicine came from they need to ask questions.
Over 200 people have been reported as contracting the illness. Symptoms include severe headache, nausea, dizziness and fever. Treatment for fungal meningitis lasts anywhere from four to six weeks.
Copyright 2012 WCSC. All rights reserved.
