Watch CBS News

62 Michigan Cases, 6 Deaths In Meningitis Outbreak

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Authorities are reporting 62 infections and six deaths in Michigan in a national outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to contaminated steroids from a Massachusetts pharmacy.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Michigan Department of Community Health reported the new figures Monday. The number of infections is up from 63 one week earlier and 83 on Saturday.

Michigan's six deaths include a Cass County woman whose meningitis was linked to treatments for back pain across the border at an Indiana clinic. Two deaths were from Washtenaw County and one each from Genesee, Livingston and Oakland counties.

Fungal meningitis is not transmitted person-to-person. Infected patients have presented approximately one to four weeks following their injection with a variety of symptoms including fever, new or worsening headache, nausea, and other symptoms consistent with a stroke. Some of these patients' symptoms were very mild in nature.

Any individual who received an epidural steroid injection and is experiencing symptoms consistent with fungal meningitis or a stroke should immediately contact their physician or seek medical attention.

Additional information about the investigation can be found at this link.

More resources:

CDC meningitis outbreak map
Michigan Department of Community Health meningitis info

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.