The death toll from a deadly meningitis outbreak in the US blamed on a tainted drug rose to 14 today as the number of cased jumped to 170 in 11 states, health officials said.
Investigators say as many as 13,000 people in 23 states may have received contaminated doses of the steroid, which is typically injected into the spine to treat back pain.
The outbreak has led to calls for tighter regulation of the loosely controlled pharmaceutical compounding industry.
Critics said drug manufacturers have found a way to sidestep costly and strict oversight by classifying themselves as pharmacies, which are given freer rein to mix drug compounds for patients.