Timeline of the Fungal Meningitis Outbreak. The first case was confirmed in Tennessee on September 18, 2012. Twenty-three states had received contaminated lots of preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate, and 20 states reported confirmed cases of fungal meningitis. As of October 23, 2013, the case count stood at 751 patients and 64 deaths, and no additional cases are anticipated. Abbreviation: MMWR, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.