( CNN ) -- Michigan 's attorney general has requested a criminal investigation into the conduct of an embattled Massachusetts company linked to a recent deadly fungal meningitis outbreak . Michigan had at least 259 infections and 14 deaths , leading the nation in people affected by the outbreak last year , said Bill Schuette , the state 's attorney general . The outbreak , linked to tainted steroid injections from New England Compounding Center , killed 51 people and infected 730 people in 20 states , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said . Massachusetts drug compounder recalls some of its injectables . `` Hundreds of Michigan citizens and their families have endured terrible pain and deaths of loved ones suffering from illnesses caused by these tainted steroid injections , '' said Schuette . `` This investigation is necessary to uncover the truth as to how this unspeakable tragedy happened and to restore public faith in our healthcare system . '' Schuette said he filed a petition to the Michigan Court of Appeals to have a grand jury determine if the company broke any state laws `` when it distributed tainted steroid injections to patients at clinics in four Michigan counties . '' What is a compounding pharmacy ? A representative of the New England Compounding Center could not immediately be reached for comment . Barry Cadden , owner and director of the company , was summoned to a congressional subcommittee in November but refused to answer questions , citing his constitutional right to remain silent . Mass . cracks down on compounding pharmacies . The company filed for bankruptcy in December . Also last year federal authorities launched a criminal investigation into the practices at New England Compounding Center . A state pharmacy board also voted to permanently revoke the company 's license to operate as well as the licenses of the company 's three principal pharmacists . Symptoms of fungal meningitis can include headache , fever , nausea , stiff neck , new weakness or numbness anywhere in the body , slurred speech , pain or swelling at the injection site and sensitivity to light , according to the CDC . One woman 's fight for compounding pharmacy guidelines .
At least 100 people have died from the outbreak , he says . Some 200 people have died nationwide , the CDC says . ` ` This investigation is necessary to uncover the truth , '' he says .