RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia public health officials say the number of suspected fungal meningitis cases in the state has increased to 50.
That number includes three West Virginia residents and two fatal cases.
A national outbreak of fungal meningitis has been linked to steroid shots for back pain made by a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts. The medication was recalled in late September.
The tainted steroid was given to approximately 700 patients at outpatient facilities in Roanoke and Christiansburg.
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked 424 illnesses to the shots and 31 deaths.
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Online:
CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html
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