Mexican and United States authorities want the WHO to declare a public health emergency over a fungal outbreak linked to cosmetic operations in Mexico, and the deaths of two people from fungal meningitis after epidural anaesthesia.
Two cosmetic clinics in the Mexican city of Matamoros have been shut down, and around 400 people are being monitored, said the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Authorities have urged people who had surgeries involving epidural anaesthesia at either the River Side Surgical Centre or Clinica K-3 since January to get evaluated, even if they are currently asymptomatic, reports the BBC.
The CDC said it had already identified 25 people in the US with “suspected” or “probable” cases of fungal meningitis.
Many US citizens travel to Mexico for cosmetic procedures like liposuction, breast augmentation and Brazilian butt lifts, which all require the injection of an anaesthetic into the area around the spinal column.
The CDC’s Dallas Smith said that medications used during the anaesthetics may have been contaminated either in the epidural itself or in other medications that are added in conjunction during the surgeries, like morphine.
“There's a current shortage in Mexico, which could be potential for contaminated medicine on the black market,” he said.
Last October, a batch of a local anaesthetic commonly used for operations such as Caesareans was found to have been infected by the same fungus, leading to the death of 39 people in the Mexican state of Durango.
In February, MedicalBrief reported that Mexican police had arrested an anaesthesiologist and two others linked to the outbreak, which killed at least 39 women and hospitalised another 79.
The trio was arrested in Durango, with prosecutors accusing them of distributing infected medicines they believe led to the outbreak.
The most common early symptom of fungal meningitis is headaches, followed by fever, vomiting, neck pain and blurred vision.
Fungal meningitis is not contagious and can be treated with antifungal medicines, but it can can quickly become life-threatening once symptoms begin.
BBC article – US and Mexico sound alarm over cosmetic surgery-linked fungal outbreak (Open access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Mexican doctor charged with spreading deadly meningitis
Brazilian butt lift: Behind the world’s most dangerous cosmetic surgery
Demand for cosmetic surgery continues to grow