US officials have warned that a new potentially deadly fungal infection is spreading “dramatically” across the country.
The fungus, a type of yeast called Candida auris or C auris, can cause severe illness in people with weakened immune systems, researchers found.
Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control evaluated cases of Candida auris that had been reported to them from 2016, when cases were first identified, until 2021.
“Cauris cases and transmission have risen in recent years, with a dramatic increase in 2021,” the paper said.
They found a total of 3,270 clinical cases and 7,413 screening cases of C auris in in the US until December 31, 2021.
“The percentage increase in clinical cases grew each year, from a 44 per cent increase in 2019 to a 95 per cent increase in 2021,” the paper said.
Seventeen US states identified their first C auris case from 2019-21.
“These findings highlight the need for improved detection and infection control practices to prevent spread of C auris,” the paper said.
The CDC said the fungal infection is an “urgent threat” because it is often multidrug-resistant, easily spreads through healthcare facilities and can cause deadly disease.
It is also resistant to some common disinfectants and can be carried on people’s skin without causing symptoms, easily spreading to others.
The CDC warning comes as Mississippi is facing a growing outbreak of the fungus.
12 people in the state have been infected with four "potentially associated deaths" since November, according to the state’s health department.
