Cases of meningitis expand in Michigan

LANSING, MI (AP)--   The federal government says Michigan cases in a meningitis outbreak linked to contaminated medication have risen by three to 28.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted new numbers on its website Wednesday.  Michigan has 28 cases, including three previously reported deaths.

Rare fungal meningitis has been linked to contaminated steroids injected into people with back pain.  The medication was made by a Massachusetts pharmacy and shipped to four Michigan clinics.

There have been at least 12 deaths from the national outbreak.

The Michigan residents who died were a 67-year-old woman from Livingston County, a 78-year-old woman from Washtenaw County and a 56-year-old woman from Genesee County.