Framingham company linked to deadly meningitis outbreak

FRAMINGHAM (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - A deadly cross-country meningitis outbreak has been traced right back to a Massachusetts company. Patients in several states hoping to relieve back pain are now fighting a deadly virus.

Health officials believe the infected patients contracted the disease after receiving steroid injections that came from New England Compounding Center in Framingham.
    
Twenty-six cases of fungal meningitis have been reported in five states and four have died. Officials say there do not appear to be any cases in Massachusetts.
    
With 18 cases, Tennessee has been hit the hardest. At three clinics there, officials are trying to track down 900 people who received the steroid in the past three months.

New England Compounding Center says it is working with health officials to identify the source of infection. They issued a statement saying they have voluntarily suspended operations while they assist authorities in their investigation.

Cox Media Group