THE ANN: Fungal meningitis outbreak puzzling for Ann Arbor hospitals, patients

By Amy Biolchini County, health and environment reporter

Posted on Fri, Jan 4, 2013 : 1:35 p.m.

A deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis caused by doses of contaminated injectable steroids that doctors unknowingly administered to about 14,000 patients across the country hit extremely close to home for many individuals in Washtenaw County, The Ann magazine reports.

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Superior Township quickly became a national epicenter of treating deadly fungal meningitis outbreak, as doctors and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention faced a rare illness with no known course of treatment.

Some of the patients’ stories ended tragically, as was the case for 61-year-old Lyn Laperriere of Milan. His wife, Penny Laperriere, gave her permission for Lyn to be removed from life support days before the couple’s 10th wedding anniversary, according to the report.

Lyn Laperriere is among 14 Michigan residents who have died in the outbreak since the end of September. The most recent death is of an 87-year-old Washtenaw County woman who died Dec. 30.

Read The Ann’s report on the fungal meningitis outbreak

Tags: fungal meningitis, meningitis,

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Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.