05/18/2023: Lab Advisory: CDC Issues Health Alert for Outbreak of Suspected Fungal Meningitis in U.S. Patients Who Had Surgery in Mexico

Audience: Clinical Laboratories

Level: Laboratory Advisory

On May 17, 2023, CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) message about an outbreak of suspected fungal meningitis among U.S. patients, now hospitalized in Texas, after they had cosmetic procedures under epidural anesthesia in the city of Matamoros, state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. It is currently unknown which organism(s) is causing the outbreak.

Symptoms associated with the fungal meningitis outbreak include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and altered mental status. Testing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may be necessary to diagnose fungal meningitis. For more information, please review the HAN in detail.

We encourage you to share this message widely with your network(s).

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Resources

• Meningitis
• Fungal Meningitis

Questions?

• If you are a clinical or public health laboratory professional, contact LOCS.
• For media inquiries, contact the CDC Newsroom.
• For all other questions, contact CDC-INFO.

Thank you,

The Laboratory Outreach Communication System

Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS) | Division of Laboratory Systems (DLS)

Office of Laboratory Science and Safety (OLSS)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

LOCS@cdc.gov

www.cdc.gov/locs