(Indianapolis, Ind.) - The number of Hoosiers infected with a rare form of meningitis continues to climb. 

The fungal meningitis has been linked to steroid shots for back pain administered via epidural. The steroid – identified as preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate - was shipped to 23 states including Indiana and Ohio. It was manufactured and sent from New England Compounding Center, a Massachusetts company that voluntarily recalled the product last week.

Indiana State Department of Health officials say eleven people in Indiana have now been sickened by the fungal meningitis. Only one case has been found in Ohio, state health officials said Monday. Nationwide, 105 people have been sickened and there have been eight deaths. 

The drug was received at six health care facilities in Indiana received the medicine, but none in southeast Indiana.

There is, however, at least one tri-state facility which had received the steroid in question. Hamilton County Public Health officials are tracking patients at Cincinnati Pain Management Consultants in Sycamore Township who may have been exposed to the drug.

More information about the illness is available at http://www.in.gov/isdh/25654.htm.