An outbreak of fungal meningitis in Mexico has killed at least six people who underwent cosmetic procedures such as liposuction and breast augmentation.
After all, as of Friday, nine people who underwent epidural anesthesia during various surgical procedures at one of two clinics in Matamoros, Mexico, had confirmed cases of fungal meningitis. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A further 10 people have been diagnosed with probable infection and 169 are under observation, officials said.
Authorities linked the case to Riverside Surgical Center and Clinica K-3, located just south of the US-Mexico border near Texas.Both clinics closed May 13, and the CDC issued a travel advisory That same month, he urged Americans to postpone the election process in the region.
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Authorities urge patients to seek treatment
It is the sixth increase in deaths since U.S. officials confirmed four suspected deaths from the disease in mid-June.
The CDC announced earlier this month that it was working with the Mexican Department of Health and U.S. state and local health departments to respond to an outbreak among patients who traveled across the border from Brownsville, Texas to Matamoros. .
While authorities are trying to contact all people who may be at risk, government officials confirmed that the dura mater had been confirmed at two identified clinics between January 1 and May 13. Persons treated with external anesthesia were advised to seek emergency care. Tests include an MRI and a spinal tap, also called a spinal tap.
What is fungal meningitis?
Fungal meningitis is a rare but life-threatening fungal infection that causes swelling of the area around the brain and spinal cord, according to the CDC. Symptoms may be mild or may be absent for several weeks, but may be more severe, including fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, photosensitivity, and confusion.
This infection is not contagious. That is, it cannot spread from person to person, but develops after a fungal infection from elsewhere in the body spreads to the brain or spinal cord.
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CDC data show that the number of American deaths from fungal diseases has increased over the past five years.
An estimated 7,199 people will die from fungal diseases in the United States in 2021. According to the CDCnoted that it is difficult to know the exact death toll because many cases go undiagnosed. This represents a 51% increase from 2018, when 4,746 fungal deaths were recorded.
Eric Lagatta covers the latest and trending news for USA TODAY. Please contact elagatta@gannett.com and follow @EricLagatta on Twitter.
