Health officials are raising the alarm over a deadly fungus described as similar to ‘having cancer‘ that is surging in US hospitals.
Candida Auris, a type of yeast resistant to most treatments, was first detected in hospitals in 2016, with 52 infections reported across four states.
But cases have doubled every year since, with 4,514 infections across the country detected in 2023 — the latest date available — and the disease has spread to 38 states.
The CDC declared it an ‘urgent threat’ in 2023, but now — causing further alarm — cases are rising quickly in hospitals in Georgia and Florida.
The fungus can colonize the skin of individuals in hospitals and contaminated surfaces and medical equipment, where it is difficult to remove as it is resistant to most disinfectants.
It can then be transferred to sick people via physical contact, where it may enter the body through cuts or devices such as those for a breathing tube or a catheter.
This can cause a serious infection if the fungus spreads to infect the blood. About one in three people who contract C. Auris die from the infection.
Those who have prolonged stays in the hospital or need invasive medical devices are particularly at risk of infection, doctors warn.