Deaths in Mich. rise to 6 in meningitis outbreak - WNEM TV 5

Officials have added another Michigan death to the national meningitis outbreak.

At least six Michigan residents have died among the 49 stricken with fungal meningitis. The latest is a 79-year-old woman from Oakland County. The illness has been linked to contaminated steroids made at an East Coast pharmacy and shipped to a handful of Michigan clinics.

The Michigan Department of Community Health says there have been four abscesses and a joint infection, in addition to the meningitis cases.

The most important factor determining who gets sick seems to be how much fungus was contaminating a vial of medication. The steroids were injected to relieve back and neck pain.

Tennessee has 66 of the 271 patients sickened with meningitis or joint infections. Eight of the 21 who have died were in Tennessee.

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