U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials have expanded their recall investigation with regards to contaminated pharmaceuticals produced by the New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Mass.  

    In doing so, nine Idaho facilities that dispense such pharmaceuticals were notified and added to the list on Wednesday. In Eastern Idaho, the additional facilities named are Walker Spine & Sports Specialists in Idaho Falls and the Idaho Eye Care Center in both Idaho Falls and Pocatello.

    The nine Idaho clinics did not receive the NECC epidural steroid injections that have been recalled. However, the clinics did receive other injections, including steroid shots, used for medical treatments such as joint pain relief and during heart and eye surgeries.

    At this time, no illnesses associated with the expanded list of NECC injectable drugs have been confirmed, according to an Idaho Department of Health & Welfare issued press release. It is not known how many patients may be affected.

    Four more people have died in the non-contagious fungal meningitis outbreak, bringing the nationwide death toll to 19.

    The deaths are among the 247 people in 15 states sickened in the outbreak. They all received shots of an apparently contaminated steroid medication commonly used to help control back pain.

    Most of the patients contracted a rare fungal form of meningitis after getting the shots for back pain over the past few months. Two developed infections from joint injections.

    Of the latest deaths, two were in Tennessee and one each was reported in Florida and in Virginia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday. That brings deaths to eight in Tennessee; three in Florida and Michigan, two in Indiana and Virginia, and one in Maryland.

    In Idaho, one Eastern Idaho resident over the age of 60 is currently being treated for fungal meningitis. He is reportedly responding well to treatment.

    The man’s name is not being released due to the federal HIPAA privacy laws.

    The two Idaho facilities previously named in the recall are Walter Knox Memorial Hospital in Emmett and Pain Specialists of Idaho in Idaho Falls.

    Employees at the nine clinics identified on Wednesday are contacting patients treated with the drugs and are asking them to report any symptoms of infection, or meningitis.

    Anyone who feels as though they are sick and fit the criteria should contact their health care provider immediately if they experience symptoms.

    Symptoms may include a new or worsening headache, dizziness, fever, nausea, and sensitivity to light.

     A number of people who became ill also had symptoms of stroke, such as weakness or difficulty with speech.

    For additional information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at: http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html.