Meningitis outbreak deaths rise to 19

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NEW YORK (AP) -

Health officials say four more people have died in the national meningitis outbreak, bringing the number of deaths to 19.

The deaths are among the 247 people in 15 states sickened in the outbreak, which has been tied to steroid shots for back pain. Most have a rare fungal form of meningitis. Two have joint infections.

Federal officials are investigating the New England Compounding Center in Framingham as the source of the tainted medicine.

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According to the Tennessee state Health Department, eight people in Tennessee have now died from the disease. In total, 61 people in the state have been sickened, an increase of three from Tuesday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated the count on Wednesday. There were two more deaths reported in Tennessee and one each in Florida and Virginia.

The CDC also said test results so far show infections with three kinds of fungus. Most were a form of black mold.

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