Nine states including North Carolina and Virginia have reported cases and eight people have died nationally.

About 70 patients who received spinal steroid injections at High Point Surgery Center earlier this year have been informed that they may develop a rare form of fungal meningitis.

In a news release on Friday, High Point Regional Health System said the surgery center was contacted by the Centers for Disease Control regarding the possible contamination of an epidural steroid injection product.

High Point Surgery Center is one of three North Carolina clinics warning patients to look for symptoms of the potentially fatal disease.

Ayotunde Ademoyero, Director of Epidemiology at the Forsyth County Department of Public Health says symptoms of the fatal disease can vary.

"Infected patients develop these symptoms within 1 to 4 weeks after receiving the injection and the symptoms range from fever, to headache, nausea and sometimes some neurological deficits consistent with a deep brain stroke,” said Ademoyero.

Ademoyero says this type of meningitis is not contagious. The steroid product was made by a specialty drug company in Massachusetts. The company voluntarily recalled the product. Officials say it was sent to clinics in 23 states. 

Tunde says Doctors have been actively contacting patients who received the medication.

“At this point, go back to your doctor’s office and find out if you received that lot. Bear in mind that it is from July 1st up to date and most of the products have been pulled from the market. If you are concerned contact your physician and get tested,” said Ademoyero.

Hospital officials said the product was used only at the surgery center and not at the hospital. According to the CDC, the North Carolina Orthopedic Clinic and Eastern Regional Surgical Center in Wilson also received the tainted medication.