Fungus blamed for meningitis rarely causes trouble

MALCOLM RITTER AP Science Writer Published:

NEW YORK (AP) -- The fungus blamed for causing a meningitis outbreak in several states is mostly everywhere. It floats in the air, indoors and outdoors -- and only very rarely makes people sick.


It's being blamed for meningitis that occurred after a steroid contaminated with it was injected into the spinal column of some patients getting pain treatments. That provides a rapid way for the fungus to cause a serious infection. It's not clear how the fungus got into the medication which was made by a specialty pharmacy.





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