4 dead in meningitis outbreak

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- An outbreak of a rare and deadly form of meningitis has now sickened 26 people in five states who received steroid injections, health officials said Wednesday. Four people have died.

Eighteen of the cases are in Tennessee, where a Nashville clinic received the largest shipment of the steroid suspected in the outbreak. The drug was made by a Massachusetts firm that has since issued a recall.

Three cases have been reported in Virginia, two in Maryland, two in Florida and one in North Carolina. More new cases are almost certain to appear in the coming days, said Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner. company's website was unavailable.