In a recent fungal meningitis outbreak at cosmetic procedure clinics in Mexico, four individuals from the United States have tragically lost their lives, prompting concerns about potential widespread infections.
Health officials have confirmed the fatalities and suspect many others might have gotten exposed to the deadly condition. Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel advisory advising travelers to exercise “enhanced precautions” in the affected area.
According to NBC News, approximately 200 people in the United States may have encountered the lethal fungal meningitis during their visits to two clinics in Matamoros, Mexico. These clinics offered procedures such as implants and liposuction, with the exposure primarily occurring in patients who underwent epidural anesthesia, as stated by health officials. The River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3, the two clinics involved, were subsequently closed on May 13, following the CDC’s guidance.
The CDC has been actively collaborating with the Mexican Ministry of Health and the state and local health departments in the United States to address the outbreak among patients who traveled to Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville, Texas. Individuals who underwent procedures involving epidural anesthesia in the clinics from January 1 to May 13 are considered at risk for fungal meningitis and should seek medical attention, warned the CDC.
NBC News highlighted two potential causes for the outbreak: contaminated morphine used during cosmetic procedures and the reuse of medication vials. Nevertheless, the exact source of the outbreak remains undetermined. Dr. Tom Chiller, head of the fungal diseases branch at the CDC, speculated that the shortage of morphine at pharmacies may have created an environment where unscrupulous actors operated a black-market morphine business.
As part of their investigation, CDC officials are examining the possible involvement of other clinics in the…
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