Mexico is hit with a mysterious meningitis disease killing over 30 individuals, according to reports.
Meningitis Disease Outbreak in Mexico
State officials in northern Mexico reported another death linked to the mysterious meningitis outbreak, bringing the total number of deaths related to the disease to 35, New York Post reported.
To date, Mexico's largely rural Durango state has documented 79 meningitis cases in the past months. The first was confirmed late last year when the doctors diagnosed several cases of aseptic meningitis, a harmful inflammation of the brain.
The outlet noted that all infected patients underwent surgeries that used spinal anesthesia in private hospitals in Durango, based on the data that the local officials reported to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In November, Mexico's health ministry announced that it was working with officials in Durango to review its health protocol and better understand the still undetermined cause of the mysterious disease, according to Reuters.
Durango's state government considered the ongoing meningitis disease outbreak "unprecedented." It also stressed that officials at all levels of the Mexican government are hard at identifying the best treatment for the patients infected with the disease.
WHO officials said in December that they were monitoring and investigating the issue with Mexico's health ministry and local authorities. As of this writing, it's unclear how many patients have recovered from the earlier bout with the disease.
The Mexican health ministry did not immediately respond to Reuter's request for comment.
What is Meningitis?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the membranes surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord. Typically, the swelling is caused by a bacterial or viral infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Injuries, cancer, certain drugs, and other types of infections can also cause meningitis. Meningitis treatment varies depending on the underlying cause, so it is crucial to determine the precise cause.
There are different types of meningitis - bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic, amebic and non-infectious.
Bacterial meningitis is caused by bacteria and can be deadly. It requires immediate medical attention. Fortunately, vaccines are available to protect humans from this disease.
This can spread from one person to another. Certain germs can spread through food.
Viruses cause viral meningitis. Although it can be serious, it is less severe than bacterial meningitis. People with a normal immune system who are infected with this usually get better on their own.
People can spread viral meningitis by being in close contact with someone who has it. However, you may not develop meningitis and only spread it because most people infected with the virus do not develop meningitis.
Fungi cause fungal meningitis, and one can get it by inhaling fungal spores. Those with medical conditions like diabetes, cancer, and HIV are at higher risk of this kind of meningitis. This type of meningitis is rare.
Parasitic meningitis is caused by parasites that affect the brain or nervous system. It is less common than viral and bacterial.
Amebic meningitis is a rare and devastating infection affecting the brain due to Naegleria fowleri, a free-living microscopic amoeba living in warm water and soil.
Certain conditions like cancer, lupus, drugs, head injury and brain injury cause non-infectious meningitis.
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