A rare form of fungal meningitis linked to steroid injections has killed at least eight people in the United States and sickened more than 100. Officials say as many as 13,000 people in 23 states have received injections that may put them at risk. Half the confirmed deaths have been in Tennessee. A hospital late Monday announced the death of another patient, potentially bringing the national death toll to nine. The outbreak has brought attention to an apparent gap in the regulation of compounding pharmacies that produce medications from drug ingredients. Tennessee’s health commissioner warned consumers to avoid recalled drugs from the New England Compounding Center.

Dr. John Dreyzehner: “We really don’t know at this point in time where all those materials are. Important to note: there’s no evidence at this time that any of those materials are contaminated. They are being recalled out of an abundance of caution. That having been said, certainly anybody that’s in possession of materials that say 'New England Compounding Center' or 'NECC' on the label should not use them.”