Politics & Government

Two More Men in MN Have Fungal Meningitis

One patient is in his 60s, the other in his 50s. The infection is tied to steroids used at clinics in Fridley, Edina, Shakopee and Maple Grove.

A Minnesota man in his 60s and another in his 50s have been diagnosed with fungal meningitis, the Minnesota Department of Health announced Thursday afternoon.

They are the eighth and ninth cases in the state. Women ranging in age from their 20s to their 70s have accounted for six of Minnesota's nine cases.

Federal agencies have linked the rare infection to steroids produced at a now-closed compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts and used at six clinics in Minnesota:

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The outbreak is now in 18 states and has killed 24 people. Minnesota is one of 11 states where people have come down with the infection but no one has died. Fungal meningitis is different from the more common bacterial and viral forms of meningitis and is not spread person-to-person.

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