AG Bill Schuette, U.S. Attorney Announce Joint Investigation into Meningitis Outbreak

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette along with the U.S. Attorney's Office has announced a joint investigation into a a deadly fungal meningitis outbreak in late 2012.

The announcement came at a press conference this morning with Schuette and U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz of Massachusetts. Schuette said the agreement - in which state and federal investigators will exchange information and push forward together - will save time and better the chances of "getting justice for victims of fungal meningitis."

Investigators will try and determine if there was any criminal misconduct in the manufacturing and distribution of tainted steroid shots administered by the New England Compounding Center. The outbreak caused at least 64 deaths in 20 states. Michigan was one of the hardest hit with over 260 cases and 19 deaths. The hardest hit areas include Macomb, Livingston, Genesee and St.Clair Counties where injections had been given at area clinics.

Schuette had previously convened a multi-county grand jury to investigate the incident. That happened in April and the six-month time limit is running out.