Number of U.S. meningitis cases rises to 50 in deadly outbreak

Fri, 5 Oct 2012 23:18 GMT
Source: Reuters // Reuters

* Vials of steroids linked to outbreak sent to 23 states

* Doctor urges that recipients be tracked down immediately

By Tim Ghianni

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct 5 (Reuters) - The number of people stricken with a rare form of meningitis linked to steroid injections rose to 50 in seven U.S. states, authorities said on Friday, in a widening outbreak that has killed at least five people.

Michigan said it had confirmed six cases of fungal meningitis, the seventh state to report people falling ill after receiving the injections, mainly for back pain.

Other states with cases are Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina and Indiana.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported 47 cases of meningitis on Friday, while Michigan reported an additional two cases and North Carolina one not included in the CDC count. That brought the national total to 50, compared with 35 on Thursday...
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/n...adly-outbreak?