Eleven people have died so far from an outbreak of a rare non-
contagious fungal meningitis, an inflammation of membranes
surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The discovery of the
outbreak, linked to an injectable steroid the patients were
getting to treat pain, was first reported late last week by
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. On
Tuesday the CDC said 119 people had been infected, and warned
that the number will likely rise. Fungal meningitis is very rare
and, unlike viral and bacterial meningitis, is not contagious.
How has this happened and does it touch your life? Who is
affected? The patients were injected in their spine with a
preservative-free steroid called methylprednisolone acetate.
Some time after their treatment, the patients began reporting
that they were feeling the hallmark symptoms of meningitis --
headache, fever, stiff neck and a sensitivity to bright lights.
The potentially contaminated injections were given starting May
21, 2012, with Tennessee so far reporting the