Health officer: 3 meningitis deaths in Elkhart County

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Elkhart County's health officer says three people have died from fungal meningitis after receiving injections there of a recalled back pain medication.

Dr. Dan Nafziger said Wednesday that three deaths and 28 cases of fungal meningitis have occurred in the northern Indiana county. He would not discuss any specific patients, but says most have responded well to treatment and left hospitals.

Fungal meningitis is not contagious.

State and federal health officials updated Indiana's totals Wednesday to three deaths, including that of one out-of-state resident, and 41 total cases. They have not released any details on the Indiana cases.

Relatives of 89-year-old Pauline Burema of Cassopolis, Mich., have said they believe she contracted the disease after receiving an injection at the OSMC Outpatient Surgery Center in Elkhart. Burema died Oct. 10.