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Meningitis outbreak toll: 119 cases, 11 deaths

The number of people sickened by a deadly meningitis outbreak has now reached 119 cases, including 11 deaths.

NEW YORK (AP) -- The number of people sickened by a deadly meningitis outbreak has now reached 119 cases, including 11 deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated the count on Tuesday.

New Jersey is the 10th state to report at least one illness. The other states involved in the outbreak are Tennessee, Michigan, Virginia, Indiana, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina and Ohio.

Officials have tied the outbreak of rare fungal meningitis to steroid shots for back pain. The steroid was made by a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts. At least one contaminated vial was found at the company.

The company recalled the steroid that was sent to clinics in 23 states, and later recalled everything it makes.

Meanwhile, two Democratic lawmakers are calling for stricter federal oversight of compounding pharmacies in the wake of the deadly meningitis outbreak.

Representatives Rosa DeLauro and Edward Markey said in separate statements Tuesday that they will draft legislation to give the Food and Drug Administration more authority to police the safety of custom-mixed medicines, known as compounded drugs.

Compounding pharmacies traditionally supply products that are not available commercially, based on an individual doctor's prescription. But some pharmacies have grown into larger businesses, operating across state lines and supplying drugs to thousands of hospitals, clinics and physicians.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says as many as 13,000 people received steroid shots from the New England Compounding Center of Framingham, Mass.

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