Actress EVA LONGORIA has appealed to followers on Twitter.com to keep her informed on the latest news about the meningitis outbreak after a close friend was hospitalized with the disease.

Health officials have announced that 20 people have died as a result of the outbreak in states including Florida, Idaho, Tennessee and Longoria's native Texas, and there are 257 non-fatal cases.

The former Desperate Housewives star rushed to her pal's hospital bedside in Texas on Thursday (18Oct12) after learning the unnamed friend was among those who have fallen ill, and now the worried Latina has asked her fans to help keep her abreast of all the latest developments regarding the bacterial infection, which affects the brain and spinal cord membranes.

Taking to her Twitter page on Friday (19Oct12), she writes, "Guys I need your help, please send me any info on fungal meningitis break out. I need the most updated info! Scary stuff. Thank u (sic) tweeples (Twitter people)!"

The meningitis outbreak has been linked to a contaminated steroid shot for back pain from specialist pharmacy The New England Compounding Center in Massachusetts, which has since been shut down. An estimated 14,000 people received the contaminated steroid.