Meningitis outbreak connected to Matamoros clinics claims another Texas citizen.

The meningitis outbreak in Texas has claimed a fourth victim, according to state health officials.Two cosmetic surgery centers on the other side of the border are linked to the outbreak.Those who had an epidural during surgery in Matamoros this year should seek prompt medical attention, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Two clinics, River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3, have been linked to the outbreak and have been shut down by authorities.

Between January and May 13, the Mexican Ministry of Health supplied the CDC a list of 221 American patients who, based on their surgery records, might be at risk for meningitis.

The CDC said that 224 persons in the United States have been identified as possibly exposed, with the addition of three patients not previously reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is collaborating with more than two dozen state and local health authorities to reach out to anyone who may have been exposed and encourage them to get tested. An MRI and a lumbar puncture (commonly known as a spinal tap) are used to diagnose meningitis.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), five Texans who underwent surgery in Matamoros have developed possible cases of fungal meningitis since May.

What is fungal meningitis.

Inflammation of the meninges, which surround and protect the brain and spinal cord, is called meningitis.

Indicators of meningitis

Flu-like symptoms, including high body temperature, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, mental disorientation, and photophobia. It can be brought on by a variety of factors, including bacteria, viruses, trauma, and fungi.

Three days to six weeks following surgery in Matamoros, patients in the Texas cases began experiencing symptoms.

For those who may have been exposed to meningitis

As reported by the CDC:

• Even if you don’t feel sick right now, you should visit the emergency department as soon as possible to get checked out for fungal meningitis.
• Some persons have tested positive for infection despite showing no or just minor symptoms, prompting them to begin treatment. The severity of an illness can be mitigated if therapy is started early.
• Mild cases of fungal meningitis can rapidly worsen into fatal ones.
• To ensure that your team and healthcare providers are aware of the situation and necessary testing, you may want to print and distribute this webpage.
• If you need a spinal tap but can’t get to an ER for whatever reason, you might want to see if your nearby health clinic or urgent care center offers the service. The emergency room is often the best or only choice for diagnostic testing.
• Make sure the emergency room personnel knows you want to be checked for fungal meningitis when you arrive. Describe how you recently underwent epidural anesthesia at one of the affected clinics in Mexico.