Upton To FDA And CDC: We Need Meningitis Briefings

Congressman Fred Upton wants more information on the deadly fungal meningitis outbreak that has killed four Michigan residents and sickened 185 people nationwide. The St. Joseph Republican is asking for bipartisan briefings from the Food and Drug Administration along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The outbreak was caused by tainted steroid injections that were used for back pain, and has spread to 12 states. Health officials say it's not contagious. Upton says staff members from the House Energy and Commerce Committee contacted the FDA last Friday to request a briefing, and other committees requested the same information from both the FDA and CDC this week. He wants a briefing with officials from the Massachusetts company at the source out the outbreak by next Friday.