Deadly meningitis outbreak in U.S.

meningitis outbreak, fungal meningtis, new england compounding center — AP

An outbreak of a rare but deadly form of fungal meningitis has infected 297 people in 16 states as of Oct. 22, killing 23.

The outbreak is tied to steroid injections, mostly used for relieving back pain. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the tainted injections manufactured by the New England Compounding Center have been shipped to 76 facilities in 23 states. But because the company is licensed in all 50 states, all of its products have been recalled.

In this image, a vial of injectable steroids from the New England Compounding Center is displayed in the Tennessee Department of Health in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, Oct. 8, 2012.

Laboratory technician Ruth Rutledge packages cerebrospinal fluid of the three confirmed meningitis cases in Minn., to send to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta for further testing, at the Minnesota Department of Health in St. Paul, Minn., on Oct. 9, 2012.

ameridose, new england compounding center, meningitis outbreak — AP

This photo taken Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012 in Westborough, Mass. shows the exterior of Ameridose Sterile Admixing Services, a pharmacy connected to the New England Compounding Center linked to a deadly meningitis outbreak, and which officials said Wednesday has agreed to be shut down for state and federal inspection.

meningitis, lilian cary — AP Photo/Family Photo, George Cary

This undated family photo provided by George Cary shows Lilian Cary of Howell, Mich. Friends and family gathered Monday, Oct. 8, 2012, for a wake for 67-year-old Cary who died in September, weeks after being treated with contaminated steroids for back pain. Officials say the number of Michigan fungal meningitis cases is climbing.

In this image, Dr. Robert Latham, chief of medicine at Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., where more than 600 patients received steroid injections, is interviewed on Oct. 4, 2012, in Nashville.

The 23 states that may have received shipments of the tainted product. These states include: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas and West Virginia

Patsy Bivins, 68 of Sturgis, Ky., sits on her porch with her dog Little Britches at her apartment in Sturgis, Ky., Friday, October 5, 2012. Bivins was injected with steroids at St. Mary Surgicare in Evansville, Ind., who notified her of possibly being infected with fungal meningitis.

AP Photo/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Libero Ajello

This undated photo made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a branch of the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. The fungus blamed for causing a meningitis outbreak in nine states is widely distributed indoors and outdoors, but only very rarely makes people sick.

People inhale aspergillus fungus all the time without any problem. It's nearly impossible to avoid, found in such places as decaying leaves, trees, grain, other plants, soil, household dust, ducts for air conditioning and heating, and building materials. The fungus can also cause skin infections if it enters a break in the skin. The meningitis outbreak is linked to the fungus being accidentally injected into people as a contaminant in steroid treatments.

In this Oct. 2, 2012, photo, Dr. David Reagan, chief medical officer for the Tennessee Department of Health, center, and Dr. Marion Kainer talk with local and national media about the fungal meningitis outbreak.

A sign in front of the Waverly Business Center lists the New England Compounding and other business in Framingham, Mass., Oct. 3, 2012. According to the CBS News Investigative Team, the three-lot recall involved 17,676 vials of the company's preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate.

A sign on the door to the New England Compounding Center requests no soliciting at the Framingham, Mass. company, Oct. 3, 2012. The company had two complaints filed against it - in 2002 and 2003 - that were investigated and as a result, the Compounding Center entered into an agreement in 2006 with the Mass. Department of Health to correct any deficiencies, the CBS News Investigative Team reported. That same year, the FDA warned the company against compounding topical anesthetic creams for general distribution.

The Saint Thomas Medical Plaza building is seen in Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 3, 2012. An outbreak of a rare and deadly form of meningitis was first detected among patients treated at the Saint Thomas Outpatient Neurosurgery Center located in the building.

A sign marks an entrance to Saint Thomas Hospital medical campus in Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 3, 2012. The clinic received 2,000 vials of the suspect lots, the largest number received. The clinic shut its doors last month to deal with the investigation.

An unidentified man carries packages out of New England Compounding in Framingham, Mass., Oct. 4, 2012. An outbreak of a rare and deadly form of fungal meningitis has sickened 297 people in 16 states, killing 23.

Dr. David Reagan, chief medical officer for the Tennessee Department of Health, right, and Dr. Dr. Marion Kainer, also with the state health department, tell local and national media about an outbreak of fungal meningitis infections, Oct. 2, 2012.

New England Compounding Center — Stephan Savoia

New England Compounding is seen in Framingham, Mass., Oct. 4, 2012. In March 2012, a complaint unrelated to the meningitis case was filed against the company regarding the potency of its eye medication. That complaint is still open and pending, according to the CBS News Investigative Team.

Dr. Al DeMaria, Massachusetts State Epidemiologist, answers a reporter's question regarding a meningitis outbreak linked to medicine from a Massachusetts specialty pharmacy, during a news conference in Boston, Oct. 4, 2012. At rear right is Dr. Madeleine Biondolillo, Director of the Mass. Bureau of Healthcare Safety.

Dr. Robert Latham, chief of medicine at Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., is interviewed on Oct. 4, 2012, in Nashville.

lauren smith, massachusetts, new england compounding center, james coffey — Charles Krupa

Dr. Madeleine Biondolillo, Director of the Massachusetts Bureau of Healthcare Safety, answers a reporter's question regarding a meningitis outbreak linked to medicine from a Massachusetts specialty pharmacy, during a news conference in Boston, Oct. 4, 2012. At rear right is Dr. Lauren Smith, Mass. Dept. of Public Health Medical Director.

Dr. Lucy Wilson, right, chief of surveillance, infection protection and outbreak response with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, speaks during a news conference in Baltimore, Oct. 4, 2012, about response efforts to an outbreak of meningitis.

Dr. Lucy Wilson, left, chief of surveillance, infection protection and outbreak response with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, speaks during a news conference in Baltimore, Oct. 4, 2012, about response efforts to an outbreak of meningitis that may be linked to steroid injections.

Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., is shown Oct. 4, 2012. Dr. Robert Latham, chief of medicine at Saint Thomas, said Thursday a patient died there late Wednesday or early Thursday, bringing the number of deaths in Tennessee to three in a growing outbreak of a rare form of meningitis.

A sign requesting "No Soliciting" hangs on the door of New England Compounding in Framingham, Mass., Oct. 4, 2012.

A delivery man walks up to the door of New England Compounding in Framingham, Mass., Oct. 4, 2012. Health officials expect the number of reported cases to rise in coming weeks.

An unidentified man carries packages into New England Compounding in Framingham, Mass., Oct. 4, 2012.

meningitis outbreak, new england compounding pharmacy — Charles Krupa

Dr. Madeleine Biondolillo, Director of the Mass. Bureau of Healthcare Safety, answers a reporter's question regarding a meningitis outbreak linked to medicine from a Massachusetts specialty pharmacy, Oct. 4, 2012 during a news conference in Boston. At rear left is Dr. Al DeMaria, Mass. State Epidemiologist.