EL PASO, Texas (AP) — State officials say two Texas health facilities received a painkiller linked to a rare fungal meningitis outbreak, including a suburban Fort Worth hospital that administered it to at least 114 patients.
The steroid was administered at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southlake to treat back pain. Tarrant County Public Health says no patients have been diagnosed with the meningitis. However, hospital President Traci Bernard says the patients have been advised to watch for such symptoms as nausea, light sensitivity and altered mental state.
Health officials say a Dallas-area clinic, Dallas Back Pain Management, also received the drug but hadn't administered it.
The outbreak has killed at least five and sickened 35 elsewhere. People with weak immune systems are more at risk of the inflammation of the membranes covering the brain.
