U.S. federal authorities have reported that more than 200 patients could face the risk of contracting fungal meningitis after undergoing surgeries at clinics located in a Mexican border city.
On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced it was collaborating with the Secretary of Health and U.S. state and local health departments to address the outbreak among patients who traveled to Matamoros, on the Mexican side of the border from Brownsville, Texas.
In relation to this outbreak, two linked clinics have been identified and closed: River Side Surgical Center and Clínica K-3.
The Secretary of Health has provided the CDC with a list of 221 U.S. patients who could be at risk of developing meningitis due to their procedures performed at these clinics between January and May 13.
In addition, three other patients have been identified who were not on the initial list, bringing to 224 the total number of people in the United States who may have been exposed, the CDC reported.
CDC is working collaboratively with more than two dozen state and local health departments to contact people who may have been exposed and encourage them to go to the nearest medical center for testing. Tests to detect meningitis include MRI and lumbar puncture.
Last week, the CDC issued a warning to U.S. residents to cancel any scheduled surgery in Matamoros, as there had been five possible cases of fungal meningitis in Texans who had undergone surgery there.
Sadly, one of them passed away. In addition, a second person suspected of having fungal meningitis was confirmed dead Wednesday, according to CDC reports.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and requires urgent medical attention. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and sensitivity to light. Meningitis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, trauma, or fungi, as in the case of fungal meningitis.
Affected patients in Texas began showing symptoms between three days and six weeks after their surgeries in Matamoros.
Experts note that it’s common for people to travel outside the United States in search of prescription drugs, dental treatments, surgeries and other medical procedures, in what’s known as medical tourism. Mexico, Canada, India and Thailand are popular destinations for this purpose.