Meningitis outbreak kills 6 in TN, 11 nationwide

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By KRISTIN M. HALL
Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee Department of Health officials say the state's death toll from an outbreak of fungal meningitis has risen to six.

Dr. John Dreyzhener, Tennessee's health commissioner, said Tuesday the total number of cases in the state has increased by four and now stands at 39. The cases all stem from steroid injections for back pain and officials say evidence points to contaminated medicine as the cause of the rare disease.

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The outbreak involves 10 states but Tennessee so far has reported the greatest number of cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that there have been 119 infections and 11 deaths across the nation.