Meningitis Drug Warnings Expand To Other Medications, Facilities
October 17, 2012
State health officials on Tuesday said they have expanded the search for tainted medication distributed by New England Compounding Center following federal warnings that patients receiving other medications produced and distributed by the company may be at risk.
Florida’s Surgeon General John Armstrong said the state was boosting precautions after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the list of potentially contaminated medications to include 12 other drugs. The additional warnings follow an outbreak of fungal meningitis that has claimed the lives of two Florida patients and is linked to contaminated lots of methylprednisolone acetate distributed by the Massachusetts-based company.
“As the ongoing federal investigation has expanded to all NECC injectable products, we strongly urge all Florida health care professionals and health care facilities that used NECC products to alert patients to the possibility of infection,” said John Armstrong. “Any patient who received an NECC medication after May 21, 2012, and who has symptoms of infection, should seek medical attention immediately. At this time, the risk to public health is uncertain; we remain vigilant to ensure that the public is aware of this concern.”
In all, 12 patients have been linked to the tainted spinal injections — including two in Escambia County [Read more...]
Added to the list on Monday were other injected medications used for optical procedures and open heart surgery. The drugs, which were shipped to 78 facilities across the state, were added after the FDA raised concerns that other NECC drugs could have become contaminated.
Like the earlier batches of spinal steroids, the additional drugs have been collected and are no longer in circulation. Facilities are expected to contact patients who received the medications.
A list of the recalled medications are available on the FDA website.
Elsie Lee Goshert
October 17, 2012
Mrs. Elsie Lee Goshert, 58, passed away on Tuesday, October 16, 2012, in Jay.
Mrs. Goshert was a native and life long resident of Century, Florida. She was an ordained minister.
She is survived by her husband, Jay Goshert of Century, one son, Chris Goshert of Century; one daughter, Trudie Routley of Jay; two brothers, Elery James Tedder of Byrneville and Robert Tedder of Atmore and two grandchildren.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements, Atmore, Alabama
Investigators Asking For Help In Identifying Human Remains Found In Cantonment Woods
October 16, 2012
Escambia County Sheriff’s investigators are asking for help to identify human remains that were found last Thursday in a wooded area near Well Line Road in Cantonment.
Authorities believe the remains are those of a male. At the scene, investigators found a black Adidas shirt, dark colored Dickie pants, a dark colored belt, blue or gray size 7.5 to 8 Starter brand shoes with Velcro closures. A yellow and black colored five gallon bucket labeled as hydraulic fluid was also located at the scene.
Anyone with information one a missing person that may have had similar items is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured: Shoes found along with human remains in a wooded area in Cantonment last week. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Injured In Four Vehicle Pileup
October 16, 2012
There were three minor injuries in a four-vehicle pileup on Highway 29 this morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Danial D. Rosario was driving a 2012 semi that rear-ended a Chevrolet pickup, a Toyota Corrola and a Chevy Sonic that were stopped at a red light at Highway 29 and Pinestead Road about 6:20 a.m.
Three people were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
Rosario, who was not injured, told troopers that a water bottle fell between the brake pedal and floorboard, making it impossible to brake. He was cited for careless driving, according to the FHP.
No Injuries When Driver Snaps Power Pole On Pilgrim Trail
October 16, 2012
There were no injuries when a driver hit and snapped a power pole this morning in Molino.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 31-year old Christy Anne Thomas of Molino lost control of her 2007 Pontiac G6 on Pilgrim Trail just west of Highway 29, left the roadway and struck the pole about 6 a.m. She received minor injuries but refused transport to the hospital.
Thomas was cited for careless driving, according to the FHP.
The power lines remained energized on the ground; residents of Pilgrim Trail lost electricity for over two hours as Gulf Power cut electricity to make repairs.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Falsely Claiming To Be Shot
October 16, 2012
A Molino man has been charged with falsely reporting that he was shot during an incident on Nine Mile Road earlier this month.
On October 4, Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Hannah Circle in Ensley where 31-year old David Denver Holland of Gibson Road claimed to be a shooting victim. He told deputies that he was shot at a car wash at Nine Mile Road and Airway Drive. He said three black males armed with handguns got into his car and tried to rob him. He said a struggle followed and a gun fired inside the vehicle. Holland said the suspects fired additional shots at him as he ran away, and he said the men stole his vehicle and wallet, according to an arrest report.
Holland was transported by EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment for a large laceration to his eye and his left hand.
Deputies responded to the car wash but were able to find any evidence such as shell casings or blood. No evidence of the crime was captured on the car wash’s video surveillance system.
Holland’s vehicle was located the following day intentionally burned on Caminitti Lane, with authorities unable to find any evidence that a gun had been fire in the car. Holland has a criminal history that includes vehicle arson, according to deputies.
When Holland was interviewed a second time by deputies and and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearm agents, he changed his stories and became uncooperative, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Holland was arrested and charged with making a false report of commission of crime. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Traffic Alert: Work Today Walnut Hill To Molino On South Highway 99
October 16, 2012
Drivers can expect delays on South Highway 99 today from Walnut Hill to Molino.
A Florida Department of Transportation Geotechnical Foundations crew will perform coring operations and pavement evaluations from Highway 97 to Barrineau Park Road between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Crews will take samples from the roadway as part of the work.
Additional Human West Nile Case Reported In Escambia County
October 16, 2012
One additional human cases of the West Nile virus have been confirmed in Escambia County, bringing the total number this year to 13, including one death. The Escambia County Health Department said there is still some risk that additional people could become infected with West Nile Virus from mosquito bites.
“With the continuation of the recent cooler fall weather, we expect less mosquito activity in our area and anticipate diagnosing fewer new cases of West Nile Virus,” Escambia County Health Department Director John Lanza said. “However, residents should continue to take precautions against mosquito bites until the alert is lifted for the county.”
Mosquitoes infected with WNV can bite and infect humans; about one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop serious illness. Symptoms of infection can range from mild to severe including development of diseases such as meningitis or encephalitis. People with weakened immune systems and individuals over 50 may be at higher risk of the most severe form of the infection.
Three human cases have now been reported in Santa Rosa, and one person has died from the virus in Okaloosa County.
Escambia Health Officials Still Working To Contact Patients In Meningitis Scare
October 16, 2012
The Escambia County Health Department has contacted all but just a few of the 611 people who received injections from the Pain Consultants of West Florida potentially tainted with meningitis.
At last count Monday, health officials said 605 of 611 patients that received the suspect injections had been contacted with the health department at least leaving a voice mail or a letter on a door. The Escambia County Health Department said 591 of the patients had been contacted one on one by phone or in person.
At times, two or three dozen Escambia County Health Department employees have been involved in making patient contacts.
One of the patients receiving an injection at Pain Consultants of West Florida on North Davis Highway, a 47-year old man, has come down with meningitis, the Florida Department of Health said Saturday. There have been at least 15 deaths nationwide.
Patients that received pain injections at Pain Consultants of West Florida between July 8 and September 28, 2012, are advised to call their doctor immediately and the Escambia County Health Department at (850) 535-6651.
Pictured: Escambia County Health Department employees work in the department’s Incident Command Center Monday to contact patients that received potentially tainted injections. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Locker Room Renovation Planned For Tate, Escambia, West Florida
October 16, 2012
Locker rooms at Tate, West Florida and Escambia High School will be renovated.
The Escambia County School Board is set to approve architectural service to design the renovations at a meeting later this month.
Architectural fees for Escambia and West Florida are expected to be $61,513 with a total construction budget of $527,045. At Tate High, architectural fees will total $65,235 with a construction budget of $737,866.
The architectural design will be provided by Townes + Architects in Pensacola. The projects will be funded with half cent sales tax monies.