Meningitis Outbreak Continues with New Florida Cases

A laboratory technician packages cerebrospinal fluid for further testing. (AP)

Two more people were diagnosed by the Florida Department of Health with meningitis from contaminated steroid injections.

State officials announced in a news release on Friday that a 52-year-old woman and a 79-year-old man contracted meningitis. Both were treated with the steroid at Marion County Pain Management.

Currently there are nine cases of meningitis in Florida and two deaths.

The tainted steroid had led to a multi-state meningitis outbreak. As of now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is stating that there are 185 cases across the country and 14 deaths.

The following states affected by the outbreak include: Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

Federal health officials have tracked down 12,000 of the estimated 14,000 people who may have received contaminated steroid shots for back or joint pain.

Officials are warning that patients will need to keep watch for symptoms of the deadly infection for months.

Based on reporting by the Associated Press.