Officials: 13,000 Received Suspect Steroid Shots

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By News Department

Story Created: Oct 8, 2012 at 11:46 PM EDT

Story Updated: Oct 8, 2012 at 11:46 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) - Health officials say as many as 13,000 people received steroid shots suspected in a national meningitis outbreak, but it's not clear how many are in danger.

Officials aren't sure how many of the shots -- from a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts -- may have been contaminated. And the number includes not only those who got them in the back for pain, but also those who got the shots in other places, like knees and shoulders. Those who received back injections are most susceptible.

The number of people sickened in the outbreak has reached 105. There have been eight deaths.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Federal health officials say many of the cases have been mild and some people had strokes.

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