FUNGAL MENINGITIS AND OTHER INFECTIONS LINKED TO CONTAMINATED PRODUCTS MADE AND DISTRIBUTED BY NEW ENGLAND COMPOUNDING CENTER (NECC)

WASHINGTON, NOV. 13, 2012 – “To date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that this outbreak of fungal meningitis resulting from contaminated products made and distributed by NECC has caused 32 deaths and has sickened 438 individuals across 19 states, including within my district” said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.  “Since 2002, state and federal inspectors have documented a history of problems at NECC similar to those in the current meningitis investigation and we need to look into the response of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) to determine if this current outbreak was preventable.”

The Oversight and Investigations hearing entitled “The Fungal Meningitis Outbreak: Could it Have Been Prevented?” will be held on Wednesday, November 14, 2012, at 10:00 AM in room 2123 RHOB.

Witnesses:

Panel One – Ms. Joyce Lovelace, widow of a meningitis victim.

Panel Two – Mr. Barry J. Cadden, President, Co-Owner and Director of Pharmacy, NECC.

Panel Three – The Honorable Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, Commissioner, FDA; Dr. Lauren Smith, MD, MPH, Interim Commissioner, MDPH.