The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that four more people have died in the multistate fungal meningitis outbreak, bringing the number of deaths to 19.
Thus far, the non-contagious outbreak has spread to 15 states, with 247 cases reported, the CDC said. There were two new deaths in Tennessee, a new death in Florida, and another in Virginia.
Officials have blamed the outbreak on medications tied to the Massachusetts-based New England Compounding Center.
U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Carmen M. Ortiz confirmed on Tuesday night that the Compounding Center is under investigation. “I think that it is entirely premature to suggest what the results of the investigation will be,” she said in a statement.
Last week, the CDC estimated that as many as 14,000 people might have received injections of the contaminated steroid.
Meningitis is an inflammation of membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include fever, nausea, and a severe headache.
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