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PULSE NEWS MEXICO

More than 200 U.S. patients may be at risk of fungal meningitis after undergoing surgery at clinics in the Mexican border city Matamoros, Tamaulipas, according to U.S. federal authorities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Wednesday, May 24, that it is working with the Mexican Public Secretariat of Health (SSA) and Tamaulipas health departments to respond to the recent outbreak among U.S. patients who traveled to Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville, Texas, earlier this year for surgeries, resulting in at least five suspected cases of fungal meningitis, one of whom died from the infection.

Mexican authorities have so far identified and closed two clinics associated with the outbreak, River Side Surgical Center and Clínica K-3.

Last week, the SSA sent the CDC a list of 221 U.S. patients who could be at risk of developing meningitis given their history of interventions in these clinics between January and May 13.

Both the CDC and the Texas health department issued an alert last week telling anyone who had undergone a procedure involving an epidural in Matamoros since the start of this year to remain vigilant and to seek immediate medical care if they develop headaches, fever or a stiff neck, common symptoms of the condition.