Two Dozen Cases of Suspected Meningitis Reported

Virginia is reporting at least two dozen cases of suspected meningitis among nearly 700 back pain patients who received steroid shots that may have been contaminated with a potentially deadly fungus. Public health officials said Tuesday 689 people received back pain shots at two clinics – one in Roanoke, the other in Christiansburg–one individual is being treated at Lynchburg General Hospital; of the 24 suspected cases reported so far, one person has died. Virginia has not extended the search for potential victims and remains focused solely on those who received epidurals on or after Aug. 8. Nationwide, there are 119 confirmed cases of meningitis and 11 deaths.