In Mexico, Durango State Prosecutor Sonia Yadira de la Garza confirmed on Tuesday that a fungal meningitis outbreak was the reason behind the death of 35 people through the alleged misuse of a drug by an anesthesiologist during gynecological obstetric and replacement procedures.  

In an interview with the local Formula channel, Yadira stated, "This specialist is detained on charges of criminal negligence, that is, negligent homicide, although the charges may be reclassified as premeditated murder during the investigation," 

The first incident was revealed in early November 2022, before the Federal Commission for Protection against Health Risks (COFEPRIS) put out an order to confiscate four sets of the anesthetic in question, Bupivacaine.

Bupivacaine was initially identified as the cause of the infections in four local hospitals at which 79 people were infected, and 35 of them died as a result.

The involved anesthesiologist not only worked at all four hospitals, but it was found during the investigation that he injected patients with the drug from ampoules containing a liquid that already had been opened, and was shockingly found to have been arriving at the hospital with pre-filled needles that contained a mix of the medicine and his own drugs.

In another shocking turn, the head of the COFEPRIS and the inspector on the case were detained for disseminating false information into the case reports, according to the prosecutor.