Mexican authorities confirmed on Thursday that two Americans died due to meningitis they acquired while getting medical treatment in a hospital in Mexico.

According to Reuters, the two Americans died in a hospital in Matamoros City in the state of Tamaulipas.

Authorities said they are investigating some 400 suspected cases of fungal meningitis after having surgical procedures at clinics in the city, located just across the border from Brownsville, Texas.

In a press briefing, Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was asked about reports of 10 deaths and hundreds of people being possibly affected by contamination in hospitals at Matamoros.

Lopez Obrador then said: "A contamination caused these deaths." He explained that the medication used for anesthesia in plastic surgeries in two private hospitals got contaminated.

The Mexican president acknowledged they were deaths but did not specify the exact number of fatalities. A representative from the United States Embassy in Mexico has confirmed the deaths of two Americans in Matamoros but did not specify when or where.

According to Vicente Joel Hernandez, the Health Minister of Tamaulipas state, five cases of meningitis had been confirmed in Matamoros. He said the fungus associated with meningitis somehow contaminated the anesthesia used in medical facilities.

Earlier this month, Hernandez noted that his office had been investigating some 400 possible cases, as he revealed the scope of the ongoing inquiry.

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CDC Investigates Mexico Hospitals Suspected of Meningitis Outbreak

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched an investigation into a potential fungal meningitis outbreak that may be associated with medical procedures performed in Mexico, WFLA reported.

Citing the Mexican Ministry of Health, the CDC said at least 221 Americans could have been exposed to fungal meningitis after having surgical procedures in two clinics in Matamoros.

The two clinics were identified as River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3. However, after discovering other patients not on the list, the CDC updated the number of potential exposures to 224.

The CDC urged anyone who received epidural anesthesia at the two clinics between January 1 and May 13, 2023, to seek immediate medical attention and request testing for fungal meningitis, even if they are asymptomatic.

Diagnostic procedures such as an MRI and a spinal tap are recommended to detect any signs of infection. The CDC noted that if treated early with antifungal medications, patients have a higher chance of survival.

However, treatment may take months to completely eradicate the disease. Experts said patients must still monitor themselves for symptoms for four weeks even if they test negative.

The CDC is already collaborating with over two dozen state and local health departments to contact all patients who are at risk of infection.

Mexico's Booming Health Tourism and Meningitis Outbreak

Mexico has become a popular destination for medical procedures due to significantly lower costs than the United States. The health tourism sector is flourishing, attracting around 1.2 million Americans annually seeking medical operations at a fraction of the price, the Daily Mail reported.

The CDC has already issued an advisory urging Americans to postpone any planned surgeries in Matamoros due to the potential risk of contracting meningitis.

Meningitis, mainly caused by bacteria or fungus, can be life-threatening if not promptly treated.

Infections are commonly associated with epidurals, a procedure in which an anesthetic is injected into the spinal cord area through a needle to alleviate pain.

Meningitis is characterized by inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Early symptoms of the illness include fever, headaches, a stiff neck, and sensitivity to light. If left untreated, individuals may experience seizures, fall into a coma, and ultimately succumb to the infection.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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