NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The fungal meningitis outbreak has claimed another Tennessean.
That brings the number of deaths in Tennessee to nine and the total number of meningitis cases in the state to 69. Friday, health officials speculated Tennessee had peaked in the number of new cases and over the next two weeks we could see a drop in new meningitis cases. The outbreak is connected to a contaminated steroid injection manufactured in Massachusetts. It's important to remember this type of meningitis is not contagious.
Nationwide, the outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to steroid shots for back pain is now blamed for 284 illnesses in 16 states, and 23 deaths. The medication, made by a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts, has been recalled.
The latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate cases reported in Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
(The Associated Press contributed to this account.)
