Washtenaw Co. death is Michigan's 5th in meningitis outbreak

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Authorities are reporting a fifth Michigan death in a national outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to contaminated steroids.

The Michigan Department of Community Health said Thursday that its death count has risen by one in the last day. Mlive.com says the latest victim was a 62-year-old Washtenaw County man.

The state agency now reports 45 Michigan cases of fungal meningitis, plus four non-meningitis infection cases related to the same contaminated steroids.

Michigan's death toll stands at five, including the death of a Cass County woman whose meningitis was linked to treatments for back pain across the border at an Indiana clinic.

A steroid made by a Massachusetts pharmacy has been tied to the national outbreak.