Glouco woman recovering from suspected meningitis

A 57-year-old Gloucester County woman on Wednesday became the latest New Jersey resident diagnosed with possible fungal meningitis from a tainted steroid medication traced to a Framingham, Mass., pharmacy.

The woman is recovering at South Jersey Healthcare Regional Medical Center in Vineland, the same place where she had the medication administered July 12, according to the state health department. An agency spokeswoman would not say where the woman lives.

Seventeen probable cases of fungal meningitis and one confirmed case have been reported in the state, all in South Jersey. None has resulted in death. Two cases have been reported in Gloucester County.

A total of 634 people received a steroid injection between May 21 and Sept. 26 at one of six New Jersey facilities, according to the state. Facilities included Premier Orthopaedic Associates in Vineland and South Jersey Healthcare in Vineland and Elmer.

Nationally, as of Wednesday afternoon, there had been 317 probable cases reported, and 24 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.   - Dan Hardy