Meningitis outbreak grows, third Floridian dies from illness

TALLAHASSEE - Florida’s fungal meningitis outbreak continues to worsen. A third person has died after getting an injection containing tainted drugs and the number of confirmed cases in Florida has grown to 13.

Plus, the number of Florida clinics that received possibly contaminated drugs from the New England Compounding Center has increased to 260.

The Florida Department of Health reports it has contacted all 260 health facilities and directed them to get in touch will every patient who received a suspect injection.

Dr. Carina Blackmore of DOH says it’s unclear how many patients might be affected.

The list of potentially contaminated drugs now includes a dozen products. Dr. Blackmore says optical procedures and heart surgeries also may have used the tainted medications.

“They are concerned about drugs that are injected and that is injected anywhere, into muscle tissue, into eye tissue and also they’re concerned about products that are used in surgery. So for example, during heart surgery fluids are used during surgery and that type of product is also of concern," said Dr. Carina Blackmore of DOH.

A 78-year-old man from Marion County is the latest death in the meningitis outbreak. The newest case involves a 28-year-old woman treated at a pain clinic in Escambia County.

Three cases have been confirmed in Escambia County, while the rest have been in Marion County.

The range of ages is 28 to 87.