Saturday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a rare fungal meningitis outbreak has spread to more than 60 people across nine states. Federal health officials say seven people have died so far, and they fear thousands more could have been exposed. Officials say the outbreak may have been caused by a steroid made by The New England Compounding Center, a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts, where inspectors found at least one sealed vial that was contaminated. The steroid has been recalled. The steroid is commonly used to treat back pain. The New England Compounding Center has said it is cooperating with health investigators. It was investigated by Massachusetts regulators in 2006.
