WASHINGTON, Nov 20: Republicans on a congressional panel investigating a deadly meningitis outbreak linked to tainted drugs have told the top U.S. Drug regulator not to expect new authority to prevent future problems until the agency hands over documents about its role in the current crisis. As the number of meningitis cases edged toward the 500-mark, the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee’s Republican majority staff released on Monday a letter that gave the Food and Drug Administration until the end of November to comply with a document request first made in mid-October. (agencies)