Va. Meningitis cases rise to 24

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia is reporting 24 cases of suspected meningitis among nearly 700 back pain patients who received steroid shots that may have been contaminated with a potentially deadly fungus.

Public health officials said Tuesday 689 people received back pain shots at two clinics -- one in Roanoke, the other in Christiansburg. Officials are still attempting to reach out to everyone who received the possibly tainted shots.

Of the 24 suspected cases reported so far, one person has died. Three of the 24 are West Virginia residents who received the pain treatment in Virginia. The state reported five suspected cases last week.

The number of people sickened in the national outbreak now tops 100. Deaths have risen to eight.