Number of U.S. meningitis cases rises to 50 in deadly outbreak

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) – The number of people stricken with a rare form of meningitis linked to steroid injections rose to 50 in seven U.S. states, authorities said on Friday, in a widening outbreak that has killed at least five people. Michigan said it had confirmed six cases of fungal meningitis, the seventh state to report people falling ill after receiving the injections, mainly for back pain. Other states with cases are Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina and Indiana. The U.S. …