A deadly fungal meningitis disease outbreak, originating from cosmetic procedures performed at Mexican clinics, has claimed the lives of four U.S. patients and infected more than two dozen others. The outbreak has put nearly 200 individuals in the U.S. at risk of exposure, prompting urgent efforts by public health officials to identify and test those affected.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have linked the outbreak to two clinics, River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3, located in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Patients who underwent procedures like breast implants or liposuction with epidural anesthesia between January 1 and May 13, 2023, are potentially at risk. Both clinics have since been closed down.
General view of one of the medical clinics suspended by Mexican health authorities, in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico on May 19, 2023.
CDC Continues To Track Exposed Patients
Dr. Tom Chiller of the CDC estimates that officials have managed to contact less than half of the potentially exposed individuals from the U.S. before the clinics were closed, NBC News reported. The task of tracking these patients has been difficult due to incorrect information provided, such as wrong names and contact numbers or transcription errors.
Efforts to inform and urge people to seek medical attention have faced some resistance, particularly from asymptomatic individuals. Dr. Chiller emphasizes the seriousness of the illness, noting that symptoms can appear late, even if one feels fine at the moment.
The onset of symptoms in the current outbreak has been observed to occur approximately 18 days to a month after undergoing surgery at the affected clinics. All patients had received epidural anesthesia, a procedure involving the injection of numbing medication into specific parts of the spine to alleviate pain signals in certain areas of the body.
Dr. Ivan Melendez, the health authority for Hidalgo County in Texas, has experienced more success in reaching out to at-risk patients. He has managed to contact nearly all of the 23 patients in his county who underwent a procedure at one of the clinics. However, he expresses concern over the lack of seriousness shown by some individuals, including local doctors, regarding the disease.
Melendez explains that patients seeking testing in emergency departments have been turned away because they lacked symptoms associated with meningitis. Additionally, some contacted patients are hesitant to undergo the necessary testing due to concerns about affordability. As of now, only seven out of the 23 individuals in Hidalgo County have completed the required testing.
About Fungal Meningitis
According to the CDC, fungal meningitis can occur when a fungal infection spreads from another part of the body to the brain or spinal cord. Various fungi can cause this condition, including Cryptococcus, Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Coccidioides, and Candida.
These fungi are present in the environment, with Cryptococcus found worldwide, Histoplasma primarily in soil containing bird or bat droppings in the central and eastern states of the United States, Blastomyces in moist soil, decaying wood, and leaves in certain regions of the United States, and Coccidioides in the soil in specific areas of the southwestern United States, south-central Washington State, Mexico, and Central and South America.
The fungi are microscopic and can be inhaled, leading to meningitis if they spread from the lungs to the brain or spinal cord. It's important to note that fungal meningitis does not transmit between individuals.
Additionally, the fungus Candida can cause meningitis. Normally residing in the body and on the skin without causing harm, Candida can enter the bloodstream or internal organs, resulting in an infection, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms of fungal meningitis include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and confusion. Treatment involves prolonged courses of high-dose antifungal medications administered intravenously, followed by oral antifungal medications.
RELATED ARTICLE: Mysterious Meningitis Disease Outbreak in Mexico Affects Patients Subjected to Surgeries With Spinal Anesthesia; Death Toll Rises to 35
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