Meningitis outbreak: 317 cases, 24 dead

6 in Michigan dead of fungal meningitis

Updated: Thursday, 25 Oct 2012, 6:56 AM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 24 Oct 2012, 7:54 PM EDT

The Associated Press

LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) -

Michigan is now officially the hardest-hit state in an outbreak of fungal meningitis.

The outbreak of fungal meningitis has been linked to steroid shots for back pain. The medication, made by a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts, has been recalled.

Latest nationwide numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as reported Wednesday:

Illnesses: 317, including five joint infections.
Deaths: 24

States affected: 17; Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

Michigan has had 73 cases of the fungal meningitis and it has caused six deaths in the state. Michigan now surpasses Tennessee, which has had 70 confirmed cases, as the most hard-hit state.

Experts say the outbreak is not over and they expect more cases to surface in the coming weeks.

Online:

CDC map of meningitis outbreaks