2 dead after surgery in Mexico, more than 200 suspected of meningitis, CDC says

brownsville, texas — Federal officials say more than 200 patients undergoing surgery at a clinic in the Mexican border city may be at risk for fungal meningitis.

The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday worked with the Mexican Department of Health and U.S. state and local health officials to respond to an outbreak among patients who traveled across the border from Brownsville, Texas, to Matamoros. announced that it is

Authorities have identified and closed two clinics linked to the outbreak, Riverside Surgical Center and Clinica K-3.

The Mexican Ministry of Health has released a list of 221 U.S. patients who may be at risk for meningitis based on surgical procedures recorded at one of the clinics between January and May 13. Sent to CDC. Three more unlisted patients were also identified, bringing the total number of people in the United States known to be potentially exposed to 224, according to the CDC.

CDC is working with more than 20 state and local health departments to contact potentially infected people and encourage them to get tested at the nearest health facility. Meningitis studies include an MRI and a spinal tap, also called a spinal tap.

Last week, the CDC issued a warning to U.S. residents to stop operations in Matamoros after five people from Texas who underwent surgery developed suspected fungal meningitis. one of them died. The CDC announced Wednesday that a second suspected case of the virus has also died.

Meningitis is a swelling of the protective membrane of the brain and spinal cord that requires urgent treatment. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and sensitivity to light. Meningitis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, trauma, or fungi.

Patients in the Texas case began showing symptoms 3 days to 6 weeks after surgery in Matamoros.

Experts say it’s common for people to leave the United States for prescription drugs, dental procedures, surgeries and other medical care (also known as medical tourism). Mexico, Canada, India and Thailand are all popular destinations.