FDA: Fungus in tainted steroids and patients match - WCIV-TV | ABC News 4 - Charleston News, Sports, Weather

By MIKE STOBBE
AP Medical Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Health officials have confirmed that a fungus behind a meningitis outbreak has also been found in unopened vials of steroid medication.

The Food and Drug Administration said the fungus was in one lot of vials made in August by the New England Compounding Center of Framingham, Mass.

The specialty pharmacy has been at the center of a national investigation into more than 250 fungal meningitis cases, including at least 20 deaths.

Health officials said this week that 40 of 42 patients were infected with a fungus called Exserohilum rostratum.