Deaths in Mich. rise to 6 in meningitis outbreak

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Officials have added another Michigan death to the national meningitis outbreak.

At least six Michigan residents have died among the 49 stricken with fungal meningitis. The latest is a 79-year-old woman from Oakland County. The illness has been linked to contaminated steroids made at an East Coast pharmacy and shipped to a handful of Michigan clinics.

The Michigan Department of Community Health says there have been four abscesses and a joint infection, in addition to the meningitis cases.

The most important factor determining who gets sick seems to be how much fungus was contaminating a vial of medication. The steroids were injected to relieve back and neck pain.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)