Deadly Fungal Infection Spreading Through US Rapidly
Due to the spread of the fungus Candida auris, the CDC has released a health advisory. It has been classified as a rising threat by the WHO.
Deadly Fungal Infection Spreading Through US Rapidly
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on a drug-resistant and potentially fatal fungus that is rapidly spreading across the country, citing federal researchers. In recent years, the number of cases of Candida auris, which was first identified in Japan 15 years ago, has risen. According to the outlet, 2,377 people were infected in 2022, as opposed to 53 in 2016. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) have classified the fungus as a developing danger as a result of its rapid expansion over the majority of US states and 40 other nations.
According to CDC data, the fungus affected 1,471 people in 2021.
The health organization stated in its recommendation that Candida auris has a mortality rate of up to 60% and particularly poses a risk to elderly individuals and those with weakened immune systems.
The Annals of Internal Medicine journal has released a warning from the CDC on its spread.
Since November of last year, 12 cases of the fungus have been reported in Mississippi, where the outbreak is expanding.
Tammy Yates, a spokeswoman for the Mississippi State Department of Health, told NBC News that “unfortunately, multi-drug resistant organisms like C. auris have grown increasingly common among our highest-risk individuals, such as residents in long-term care institutions”.
The fungus can be found on the skin and in every part of the body, according to the CDC. It poses no risk to healthy individuals.
In hospitals and elderly homes, Candida auris is frequently spread from person to person, as well as through contact with infected surfaces and equipment. According to the CDC, the fungus can survive on surfaces for several weeks.
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Traditional antifungal medications cannot treat the fungus, which causes an increase in infections.
What deadly fungus is spreading in the US?
According to experts in infectious diseases, the highly lethal fungus Candida auris, which has been recorded in roughly half of the states in the United States, also appears to have adapted to warmer temperatures. A look at how technology and innovation are changing how we live, work, and play.
Which fungal infection is life threatening?
Less often than skin and lung infections, fungi can cause meningitis and bloodstream infections, both of which can be fatal.
