A drug-resistant fungal infection breakout has spread across the United States, infecting over 3,100 people, latest CDC data confirms.
The fungus, known as Candida auris (C. auris), has affected 27 states so far this year, with California among the hardest-hit, per the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
For the week ended on July 25, over 3,437 cases of C. auris were reported.
Although the CDC data reveals the cases have not surged when compared to last year’s figures that crossed 4,290.
California reported 873 cases, followed by Texas with 433 and Tennessee with 283.
The CDC officials estimate that the surge in C. auris is increasing with each passing year, but the trajectory has shown a downward trend since 2022.
What is Candida auris?
Candida auris is a strain of yeast that has been reported in the U.S. for the last few years, per CDC.
C. auris is a drug-resistant fungal infection that especially grows in healthcare facilities, especially among patients who are already sick, and can result in a chronic illness.
Patients who are already administering feeding tubes, urinary catheters and catheters in a vein are prone to the infection, CDC states.
C. auris can live on surfaces and objects for weeks or even months, and even if individuals aren’t detected with the fungus infection, they can still spread the illness to others, CDC officials report.
Candida auris was first discovered by Korean scientists in 1996 and officially identified in Japan in 2009 as a new species.
2026-08-06 10:47:00
