Meningitis deaths rise to 19 as probe of firm intensifies

BOSTON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The number of deaths from a meningitis outbreak linked to contaminated steroid medications rose to 19 on Wednesday, just hours after federal agents raided the offices of the company at the center of the scandal and took away documents. The Centers for Disease Control said states had confirmed four more deaths in the last 24 hours as the national outbreak grew. Two of the deaths were in Tennessee, the hardest hit state with eight deaths since the infection was discovered in late September. Virginia and Florida each reported one new fatality. …