Statement from the Department of Public Health - 10/5/2012

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continue to collaborate on the ongoing investigation into an outbreak of Aspergillus (fungal) meningitis in Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

There are four products common to all of these cases. One of the medications, Methylprednisolone Acetate, a steroid, was prepared at the New England Compounding Center, Inc., (NECC) of Framingham, Mass., which is being investigated as a source of the outbreak. All medications that are similar to Methylprednisolone Acetate have been recalled.

Authorities are advising health care providers to stop use of all products prepared by NECC. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, through its Board of Registration in Pharmacy, has state regulatory authority over NECC. At the request of DPH, NECC has agreed to voluntarily surrender their license to operate until this investigation is complete. Under the Board’s regulations, Massachusetts pharmacists and pharmacies are only permitted to dispense and compound medication pursuant to a prescription from a registered practitioner for an individual patient. All matters concerning NECC drug compounding and distribution remain under investigation by federal authorities and DPH at this time.

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