Ohio reports 14th illness in meningitis outbreak

COLUMBUS (AP) — A meningitis case in central Ohio increases the state’s total to 14 illnesses linked to a larger outbreak and recalled steroid injections for back pain.

The Ohio Department of Health said today the additional case involves a 39-year-old Union County woman. Cases of rare fungal meningitis also have been reported in Clermont, Crawford, Franklin, Hamilton, Marion, Morrow and Warren counties.

Those cases involve adults, and none have died.

Federal officials report more than 360 illnesses and 28 deaths in the outbreak linked to a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts called the New England Compounding Center. It recalled its products.

Officials say dozens of Ohio facilities received the pharmacy’s products. Four clinics in Ohio received the potentially contaminated steroids, and patients that got those injections were urged to watch for symptoms.