PICTURED: Baby girl aged eight months left brain-damaged by INFANT FORMULA infected with germ that gave her meningitis
The eight-month-old baby’s left side of her brain was damaged after contracting meningitis caused by bacteria found in her baby formula.
Baby Myra White of Sikeston, Missouri, tragically contracted Cronobacter sakazakii, an invasive bacterium that has prompted a 2022 recall of some powdered infant formulas.
Mira and another Kentucky child who tragically died in November as a result of an infection both consumed powdered infant formula made by Abbott Nutrition, the company at the center of last year’s crisis.
In early March, when she was just six weeks old, premature Myra White was diagnosed with a brain infection caused by bacteria found in her formula.
The bacterium cronobacter sakazakii was found in an open container of Similac NeoSure formula in her home.
Baby Myra White of Sikeston, Missouri, suffered damage to her left brain after contracting meningitis caused by a bacterium found in baby formula.
Now her mother Asian Davis (pictured) is suing Abbott, the maker of the formula, claiming she was sold a defective product.
Mira’s mother, Asian Davis, is now suing Abbott, claiming the company sold her a defective product and that it should have warned parents of premature babies that the powdered formula could cause serious illness.
However, Abbott denies the presence of bacteria in the product.
An investigation revealed that no bacteria was found in unopened cans of Similac NeoSure formula from Mira’s home.
Bacteria occur naturally in the environment and can be introduced into infant formula after the package is opened.
FDA investigators also said they “did not identify a causal relationship” between Mira’s infection and the Casa Grande, Arizona, factory that produced formula for premature babies.
Abbott officials said they did not detect Chronobacter in infant formula batches at the plant.
FDA officials said there was no evidence that the infections in the two infants were linked to the manufacturing and they saw no reason for a new recall.
“At this time, there is no indication of broader public health concerns associated with this product,” the FDA said in a statement.
In March, a few days after feeding Mira formula milk, 33-year-old Asian Davis noticed changes in her daughter’s condition.
“She stopped eating and sucking,” says Davis, who has four older children. told Fox 4.
“That maternal instinct kicked in and I said, ‘There’s something wrong with my baby.’
After several different tests, doctors diagnosed Mira with bacterial meningitis caused by Cronobacter sakazakii, which was found in her spinal fluid and blood.
Brain scans showed neurological damage and missing tissue caused by infection.
Ever since Mira became ill, she suffered almost constantly from seizures and inconsolable bouts of crying.
“It really affected her brain,” Davis said. “She will grow, but progress will be slow.”
The bacterium cronobacter sakazakii was found in an open container of Similac NeoSure formula in her home.
In March, a few days after feeding Mira formula, Davis noticed changes in her daughter’s condition.
“She will need surgery, she may need a wheelchair,” Davis said. “She may need these things for the rest of her life,” she explained.
“It really affected her brain,” Davis said. “She will grow, but progress will be slow.”
Davis said she is suing to raise awareness of the dangers of the rare bacteria and to provide financial security for Mira’s future care.
“She will need surgery, she may need a wheelchair,” Davis said. “She may need these things for the rest of her life,” she explained.
In Kentucky, the FDA said it found “no evidence” of contamination after a Nov. 21 inspection at the Abbott plant.
However, former FDA official Frank Yiannas told Fox 4 that a negative test result does not guarantee the absence of contamination.
“A positive test result means a lot. A negative test result does not mean anything,” he explained.
Last year, federal investigators shut down an Abbot formula plant in Sturgis, Michigan, after four children were infected with the bacteria, two of whom died.
Inspectors found widespread contamination at the plant.