CDC Alert: Fungal Meningitis Outbreak at Border Clinics Kills 4 Patients From US

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta on April 23, 2020. Tami Chappell/AFP via Getty Images

Fungal meningitis outbreaks at medical clinics in Mexico have left at least four Americans  dead and likely infected more, federal officials said in a recent update.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that as of late last week, 179 people are under investigation in connection to the outbreak, while there are 14 suspected cases, 10 probable cases, and four confirmed cases—along with the four deaths. The cases occurred among patients who underwent procedures under epidural anesthesia in clinics in the border city of Matamoros in Mexico’s Tamaulipas state.

The two clinics  associated with the fungal meningitis outbreak are River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3, officials said. Those facilities have since been closed since mid-May, the CDC said, but it added that anyone who underwent epidural anesthesia for a procedure may be at risk.

“Additional people with potential exposure who were not included on the original list are being found and contacted through public health investigation, outreach efforts, social media, and by family and friends as they learn about the outbreak,” the CDC release said.

It also noted that patients who received treatment at those clinics might not show symptoms and could test positive for the infection.

“Fungal meningitis can start off mild and very quickly become a life-threatening illness. Consider printing and sharing this web page to help make sure staff and healthcare providers are aware of the situation and recommended tests,” according to the CDC, adding: “Go to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible to be evaluated for fungal meningitis, even if you do not currently have symptoms.”

Officials did not identify what kind of fungus species led to the infections. It’s also not exactly clear was led to the exact cause of the current outbreak.

Late last month, the CDC issued a “Level 2” travel advisory after meningitis infections “have led to severe illness and death,” although it noted that fungal meningitis cases are not contagious and cannot spread to other people.

“Cancel any elective procedure that involves an epidural injection of an anesthetic in Matamoros, Mexico, until there is evidence that there is no longer a risk for infection at these clinics,” the advisory said. “Cancel any elective procedure that involves an epidural injection of an anesthetic in Matamoros, Mexico, until there is evidence that there is no longer a risk for infection at these clinics,” it also said.

The Texas Department of State Health Services similarly issued an alert last month, saying that it had identified at least five patients who were infected, according to a news release.

Dr. Tom Chiller, the director of the fungal diseases branch at the CDC, told NBC News this week that officials haven’t been able to reach most people who may have been exposed before the clinics were closed down. Some people gave the wrong names or contact numbers, or the personal information was transcribed in an incorrect manner, he said.

“We’re being very aggressive and telling people to go in, yet we’re getting some hesitation on people that are asymptomatic,” said Chiller. “This is a serious illness, and it can manifest late so you may not feel anything right now.”

“It’s critical, whether you’re symptomatic or not, if you’ve been exposed to an epidural anesthesia in one of these clinics you get evaluated,” he added, noting that “early treatment is what saves lives.”

Health officials say that symptoms include a stiff neck, headache, fever, and sensitivity to light. Meningitis refers to inflammation of the tissue that sheaths the spinal cord and brain, and such infections can be caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi.

Unlike bacterial meningitis, fungal meningitis can take weeks or longer to develop, officials say. Bacterial meningitis progresses quickly and can be fatal within days, researchers say.

According to the Mayo Clinic:  “Fungal meningitis isn’t common in the United States. It may mimic acute bacterial meningitis. It’s often contracted by breathing in fungal spores that may be found in soil, decaying wood and bird droppings.”

“Fungal meningitis isn’t spread from person to person. Cryptococcal meningitis is a common fungal form of the disease,” the clinic also says. “It affects people with weakened immune systems, such as from AIDS. It can cause death if not treated with an antifungal medicine. Even with treatment, fungal meningitis may come back.”