19th Confirmed Case Of Fungal Meningitis In Florida

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) – Another case of fungal meningitis stemming from a tainted steroid shot has been confirmed in Florida.

The state's Department of Health said the 66-year-old woman from Marion County is the 19th person in the state to contract fungal meningitis.

The nationwide outbreak of this rare disease is linked to contaminated steroids made by the New England Compounding Center in Massachusetts.

An investigation of how the medicine became tainted is underway.

Three people in Florida have died from fungal meningitis after receiving the shots. Officials say the incubation period of the disease is 7 to 81 days after receiving the shots.

Nationwide, more than 300 people have contracted meningitis in 17 states and 23 have died.

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