State health officials say there will be continued concern for potential meningitis cases for some time.
During a conference call Tuesday afternoon, officials said it is still not clear how long it takes for meningitis symptoms to develop in patients who received injections of a tainted drug.
Nearly 700 patients of Insight Imaging in Roanoke and New River Valley Surgery Center in Montgomery County received injections of the medication manufactured by New England Compounding Center.
State Epidemiologist David Trump said Tuesday that it is taking about 20 days for meningitis symptoms to develop. In some cases it is shorter and some longer, however. And, State Health Commissioner Karen Remley added, some patients won't get sick at all. Doctors are focusing on patients who received injections at the two locations on or after August 8th. All those patients have been contacted.
Trump said the Virginia health department is currently reporting 24 cases of suspected meningitis, including one death. Health officials say the type of fungal meningitis that may develop is not communicable, so there is no reason to fear family members or others could catch the illness from an infected patient.
