HARLINGEN, TEXAS: The ninth American victim of the fungal infection outbreak has died after a breast implant surgery in Mexico. The Texas mom-of-three contracted fungal meningitis during the operation, a rare infection that causes swelling around the brain and spinal cord. The 31-year-old Crystal Villegas then spent the next four months fighting for her life in a Texas hospital before succumbing to the disease.

She reportedly made the trip to the Riverside Clinic in Matamoros, Tamaulipas State in Mexico, which is close to Texas in the US, to save money on the operation. Nine American women, mostly young mothers, have already died as a result of the outbreak, which has been linked to two Mexican clinics. This highlights the risks associated with so-called "medical tourism." Ms Villegas lived in Brownsville in the state, just on the other side of the border. She was receiving treatment at the Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen following her breast implant surgery and passed away at around 6.30 pm on 30 July.

'She fought hard and never gave up'

Her husband, Juan Tapia, a super featherweight boxer who fights under the name Johnny Blaze, said, "It was a hard four months; she fought hard and never gave up." Tapia claimed that his wife regretted getting breast implants and fervently desired to see her three young children reach adulthood. He said, "Those few months have been very difficult, very hard for me, but I am at peace that she is now resting."

In addition, Tapia asserted that two of Ms Villegas' friends—including a close friend in March—had also died following cosmetic surgery procedures in Mexico. One of nine Americans, including mom-of-two Jody Adkins, mom-of-four Lauren Robinson, who underwent a Brazilian butt lift (BBL), and mom-of-one Shyanne Medrano, who underwent liposuction and a BBL, have died from the fungal infection. Local news sources claim that a second Mexican patient has died as well.

Over a million Americans travel to Mexico for inexpensive procedures

Tapia claimed his wife was "learning how to walk again, how to use the restroom again, how to talk again" before she died. He added, "Please, please be aware of the risks of cosmetic surgeries. Our hope is to spread awareness so that people can actually do the research." Over a million Americans travel to Mexico each year for inexpensive cosmetic procedures at private clinics, where safety standards are frequently lower than those in the US, as reported by DailyMail.