13,000 People Exposed to Big Pharma Shots Contaminated with Rare Fungal MeningitisLisa Garber The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found fungus in sealed vials of the steroid in question, produced by the Massachusetts-based pharmacy, New England Compounding Center (NECC). The NECC voluntarily recalled all of its products on Saturday and surrendered its license to operate until completion of the FDAs investigation. You can find a list of the 76 medical facilities that obtained the steroid at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. What is Fungal Meningitis? Meningitis inflames the membranes protecting the brain and spinal cord. Usually brought on by a viral or bacterial infection, fungal infection is rare and not contagious but no less deadly. Symptoms include headache; fever; nausea; stiffness of the neck; and (in the case of fungal infection) confusion, dizziness, and aversion to bright light. Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University Medical Center says that because blood vessels clot or bleed in response to fungal infections, symptoms are rarely mild and can be as severe as small strokes. Because patients treated earlier have greater chances of survival, health officials encourage people with symptoms to seek aid. Other Dangers of Pharmaceuticals About 1 in 10 drugs administered in the U.S. are manufactured in compound facilities, which do not answer to FDA mandates and instead go through state health pharmacy boards before sale. Additionally, a report from the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology found states that aluminum hydroxide in vaccines may cause a deadly aluminum overdose for children and adults. Vaccines have also been linked to autism, Guillain-Barre syndrome, paralysis, and death in addition to less severe chronic conditions like allergies and autoimmune diseases. Additional Sources: Explore More: This article first appeared at Natural Society, an excellent resource for health news and vaccine information. 