Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Tennessee meningitis cases increase to 75

photo This undated photo made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a branch of the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. The fungus can also cause skin infections if it enters a break in the skin. The meningitis outbreak is linked to the fungus being accidentally injected into people as a contaminant in steroid treatments. It's not clear how the fungus got into the medicine.

NASHVILLE, - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that the number of fungal meningitis cases in Tennessee has increased by one to 75, including 11 deaths.

The health agency reported on Thursday that the total outbreak in 19 states was 386 cases of fungal meningitis, stroke due to meningitis or infections of the central nervous system or peripheral joints. Twenty-eight people have died.

The outbreak has been linked to recalled steroid shots for back pain from the New England Compounding Center, a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts.

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