Meningitis Outbreak Subsiding Says Doctor

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's chief medical officer says the rate of new infections from a deadly fungal meningitis outbreak appears to be declining in the state where it was first discovered. Dr. David Reagan said in an interview Thursday that not everyone who received the contaminated medicine that caused the infections will get sick. He said the most important factor determining who does get sick is how much fungus was contaminating the vial of medication they received, not their age or even how healthy they were. Tennessee's meningitis patients range in age from 23 to 91. An outbreak of fungal meningitis has been linked to steroid shots for back pain. The medication, made by a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts, has been recalled. Illnesses: 284, including three joint infections. Deaths: 23