The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an advisory regarding a outbreak of suspected fungal meningitis.
This outbreak may affect medical tourists who have visited or who plan to visit Mexico for plastic surgery.
The two clinics identified as being involved in the outbreak of fungal meningitis—which can be deadly—are the River Side Surgical Center, and Clinica K-3, according to the CDC.
Both clinics were closed on May 13, 2023, but the CDC’s warning extends beyond those clinics, to patients who may have visited Mexico recently for surgery, or received epidural anesthesia in Matamoros, Mexico.
The CDC is working with state and local health departments to contact more than 220 recent patients of these clinics, and advises them to visit their nearest health center, urgent care, of ER to get tested for meningitis.
The tests involve an MRI and an LP, or lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap.
Patients specifically believed to be at risk are those who had surgical procedures at River Side Surgical Center, or Clinica K-3 from January 1, 2023 through May 13, 2023.
CDC initially believed 221 patients were potentially at risk, but has crossed 6 patients off of that list as they did not have epidural anesthesia. Five additional patients, however, were added to the list, making 220 people in all who are believed to be at risk.
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CDC Advises Patients to Visit Nearest ER or Medical Clinic
The CDC specifically advises the following:
If you had epidural anesthesia in Matamoros, Mexico, at River Side Surgical Center or Clinica K-3 from January 1 to May 13, 2023:
- You should go to the nearest health center, urgent care, or emergency room as soon as possible to be evaluated for fungal meningitis, even if you do not currently have symptoms.
- When you arrive, tell triage and emergency room staff and healthcare providers that you need to be evaluated for possible fungal meningitis. Inform them that you recently had epidural anesthesia at one of the clinics in Mexico involved in this outbreak.
- Inform the staff and your healthcare provider that CDC recommends you undergo a lumbar puncture (LP) and a MRI, even if you do not have fungal meningitis symptoms.
- Consider printing and sharing this web page [please visit that link to print the page referred to] to help make sure staff and healthcare providers are aware of the situation.”
CDC Symptoms of Fungal Meningitis
The CDC advises that even if you do not have the following symptoms, if you had epidural anesthesia at River Side Surgical Center or Clinica K-3, you should get tested.
Symptoms of fungal meningitis include the following, the CDC says, and it can take weeks to develop them:
- Fever
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Nauseas
- Vomiting
- Light sensitivity
- Confusion
Again, symptoms of fungal meningitis can take weeks to develop, and they may be very mild at first.
But, once symptoms begin, they can very quickly become severe and life-threatening.
Early testing and treatment can save lives, according to the U.S. CDC.
CDC Advises You Cancel Elective Surgeries Involving Injection of an Anesthetic in Matamoros, Mexico
In addition to warning the public and contacting patients who have visited Mexico for surgeries at these clinics from Jan. 1, 2023 through May 13, 2023, the CDC also advises that patients who were planning to go there for surgery cancel or postpone their visits.
Advice to all members of the public: Cancel any elective procedure that involves an epidural injection of an anesthetic in Matamoros, Mexico—and any travel associated with such a procedure—until there is evidence that there is no longer a risk for infection at these clinics.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Suspected Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Associated with Procedures Performed under Epidural Anesthesia in Matamoros, Mexico.
Some of the surgical procedures performed at these surgical centers were plastic surgeries, such as breast augmentation and mommy makeovers.
Two deaths have been reported as associated with this outbreak, as of Wednesday, May 31, 2023.
The River Side Surgical Center is located at Av. de las Rosas 41, Jardín, Heroica Matamoros, Tamps., Mexico
Clinica K-3 is located at 87300, Zona Centro, 87300 Heroica Matamoros, Tamps., Mexico.
View CDC’s Full Advisory
If you visited facilities of the same name at a different address, in Matamoros, Mexico, please read the CDC’s Advisory to determine if it applies to you.
The clinic addresses provided above are based on our own research and were not provided by the CDC.
