(Trends Wide) — A second death in the United States has been attributed to a suspected outbreak of fungal meningitis among people undergoing surgeries under epidural anesthesia in Matamoros, Mexico, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. Hundreds more people could be at risk, the agency warns.
The CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services reported last week that five Texas residents had become ill, one fatally, after undergoing surgery at River Side Surgical Center or Clinica K-3 in Matamoros. In all interventions, the epidural was applied, an anesthetic that is injected into the area surrounding the spine.
The Mexican Ministry of Health sent the CDC a list of 221 US patients who could be at risk for having undergone surgery at these clinics between January 1 and May 13, according to the US agency, and others have been identified. three patients. As of Wednesday, according to the CDC, there had been two deaths, nine suspected cases of infection and nine probable cases.
The CDC urges anyone who has received an epidural anesthesia at any of these clinics during that time to go to a health center or emergency room as soon as possible to be tested for meningitis, even if they do not have symptoms. People who test positive will be given antifungal medication; those who test negative will be asked to watch for symptoms and possibly return in two weeks for further testing.
Fungal meningitis is not transmitted from person to person. Symptoms of meningitis can include fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and mental status changes. They can take weeks to develop and be mild at first, but can quickly become severe and life-threatening.
Health authorities are urging prospective patients to cancel certain procedures in Matamoros while they investigate the outbreak.
Medical tourism, including in Mexico, has become more common among people seeking lower-cost procedures and shorter waits for care, particularly dental care, surgery, cosmetic surgery, fertility treatments, and other procedures.
In a travel advisory, the CDC notes that all medical procedures “carry some risk, and complications can occur regardless of where treatment is received.”
“If you are traveling to another country for a procedure, don’t delay seeking medical attention if you suspect any complications during the trip or after you return home,” he says.
