Several women went to hospitals to give birth and received an epidural block after which they developed meningitis. Those are the majority of cases. outbreak of meningitis that occurs in Durango and which has resulted in 71 cases and 22 deaths, cut off on December 5.
The explanations behind the outbreak still do not end up describing precisely what happened. Initially, the allegations were about the medicine used for anesthesia, but COFEPRIS has carried out an analysis of some of the batches of bupivacaine used and found no traces of the fungus. fusarium solanithe designated by the undersecretary of health, Hugo López-Gatellas the cause of meningitis.
Although the origin of the fungus remains unknown, the infections occurred after anesthesia procedures, so the presumption is that there was mismanagement in medical procedures, which could imply contamination on surfaces or needles. For this reason, the Durango State Attorney General’s Office issued seven arrest warrants against administrators and managers of the private hospitals where the cases occurred and on November 30, searches were carried out at various homes to find them.
No person was found and now they are listed as “fugitives from justice“. Their files have already been shared for their location with all the states of the country, with the Attorney General’s Office and even with Interpol.
fungal meningitis
The meningitis It is inflammation of the membranes in the brain and spinal cord. Normally meningitis have a viral or bacterial origin and rarely occur due to a fungus, as in this case. Since the fungus fusarium solani has been identified as responsible, this is known as fungal meningitis. Fungal meningitis is not contagious.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list some of the symptoms of fungal meningitis:
- Fever
- Headache
- neck stiffness
- nausea and vomiting
- Photophobia (increased sensitivity of the eyes to light)
- Altered mental status (confusion)
The State Prosecutor’s Office obtains 7 arrest warrants against owners and administrators of the 4 private hospitals in Durango involved in cases of fungal meningitis. He clarifies that these are not anesthetics contaminated by the manufacturer. pic.twitter.com/VeKRGSiVcm
– Alejandro Macias (@doctormacias) December 5, 2022
“By itself the procedure does not have to be worthy of concern, as long as it is done under the hygienic and technical conditions stipulated”
Undersecretary Hugo López-Gatell
The four hospitals where the meningitis outbreak was detected have been closed.
