After Corona, dangerous fungal infection spreading rapidly in America alerts CDC
A mysterious and deadly fungal infection called Candida auris is spreading rapidly across the United States. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which monitors dangerous diseases, has given this information.
Last year, the World Health Organization prioritized C. auris on its list of 19 fungal pathogens. Multidrug-resistance fungus (yeast) was first discovered in Japan 15 years ago. According to the Wall Street Journal, in 2022, 2377 people in the US are infected.
Candida auris fungal infections on the rise
New CDC research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that when comparing data of 2019 and 2021, 95 percent more cases of this fungal infection were reported in the nation’s health centers in 2021 than in 2019. In 2016, this fungus only infected 53 people in the United States. Equally concerning was a tripling in 2021 of the number of cases that were resistant to echinocandins, the antifungal medicine most recommended for treatment of C. auris infections.
Candida auris (C. auris), an emerging fungus considered an urgent antimicrobial resistance (AR) threat, spread at an alarming rate in U.S. healthcare facilities in 2020-2021, according to data from CDC published in @AnnalsofIM. https://t.co/2GWYzWd0lj pic.twitter.com/n2JEIQLDjS
— CDC (@CDCgov) March 21, 2023
Along with America, this deadly infection has also entered Colombia. Infections have been confirmed in a total of 28 states and the District of Columbia. Also, looking at the current situation, it is believed that all the safety measures are not sufficient to fight this fungus.
WHO & CDC alert
Both the WHO and the CDC have identified this fungus as an increasing threat to public health, as it has a mortality rate of up to 60 percent. Experts say that people who are elderly or have a weak immune system can become more infected, especially after coming in contact with the fungus. This fungus causes wound and ear infections. It has also been found in urine and breath samples, but it is unclear whether this fungus actually infects the lungs or bladder. This fungus not only causes serious illness in patients but is also difficult to identify without the right tests.
