CDC updates toll from fungal meningitis outbreak: 170 people sickened in 11 states, and 14 die

WASHINGTON – The government says 170 people now have been sickened in the meningitis outbreak linked to tainted steroid shots, and 14 of them have died.

Idaho becomes the 11th state to report at least one illness. The others are Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated the count Thursday, showing 33 more cases and two additional deaths reported to the agency in the past day. The outbreak of rare fungal meningitis has been linked to steroid shots for back pain. A specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts has recalled the steroid that was sent to clinics in 23 states, as well as everything else it makes.

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