A patient who managed to survive the meningitis outbreak of 2012 in the United Stated has returned to the hospital for a relapse of the brain infection.
Saint Thomas West Hospital spokesperson Rebecca Climer said Saturday that the patient was admitted on Friday and is now under treatment. They found that the patient had meningitis relapse. The hospital is now in the process of contacting other survivors of 2012 to check their current status. They feared that these patients may experience a relapse as well.
"As a precautionary measure," Climer wrote in the statement, "Saint Thomas West Hospital staff is currently contacting former patients previously diagnosed with fungal meningitis to inquire about their health status and urge them to be alert to the following possible symptoms."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meningitis is a disease caused by the inflammation of the membranes protecting the brain and spinal cord. It is usually developed due to bacterial or viral infection but may also be caused by physical injury, cancer, or certain drugs. In the case of the hospital, it was transmitted through a contaminated steroid injection.
The hospital now warned previous patients who may be experiencing similar symptoms such as constant and severe headache, worsening back pain and fever. Those may be signs of meningitis relapse and should be admitted immediately to the hospital.
"Saint Thomas West Hospital will provide appropriate medical services, as needed," Climer added.
The 2012 meningitis outbreak affected hundreds of people. Out of 169 recorded cases in Tennessee, 16 died. Tennessee is the most affected among all states, according to the CDC report there were 750 reported cases nationwide.
There is still an ongoing lawsuit against the hospital because of the contamination. The attorneys representing the victims confirmed that the hospital has been contacted by the hospital and some were invited for check-up due to suspected relapse.