Official: Lots of blame in meningitis case

BOSTON (WPRI) -- As Massachusetts officials try to get to the bottom of a deadly fungal meningitis outbreak that started in the state, Health and Human Services Secretary JudyAnn Bigby said there was lots of blame to go around.

Bibgy testified during a Statehouse hearing on Beacon Hill Wednesday, saying managers of the compounding pharmacy, as well as state overseers, are responsible for the outbreak.

More than 30 people have died and about 440 others have been sickened, including three people in Rhode Island, after taking a steroid manufactured at the Framingham facility.

• Related: Mass. Pharmacy Linked to Outbreak

Bigby said the pharmacy disregarded sterility tests and prepared medicine in unsanitary conditions.

She also testified that the state Board of Pharmacy failed to take appropriate action to toughen oversight of the company, even though the pharmacy had been reprimanded and placed on probation in 2006.

During its investigation, the inspectors with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration documented dozens of cases of mold and bacteria growing in rooms that were supposed to be sterile.

Following the outbreak, Gov. Deval Patrick ordered regulators to conduct surprise inspections at similar types of pharmacies in the state.

For more on the nationwide outbreak, visit the Center for Disease Control's website.