US News

US meningitis toll reaches 7

An outbreak of a rare fungal meningitis has killed seven people across several states — and dozens more have been infected by the disease, health officials said yesterday.

The latest two deaths were reported yesterday in Michigan.

The disease, which is linked to steroid injections, has spread to 65 people across nine states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Those affected fell ill after receiving steroid injections, primarily for back pain, linked to a pharmaceutical compounding plant in Massachusetts. Ohio and Minnesota yesterday joined seven other states where the disease has been reported.

New York is among dozens of other states that received shipments of the drug, but as of yet, no cases have been reported in the state.