Deadly, Drug-Resistant Fungal Disease Spreading In Texas

It may sound like something out of a video game, but a deadly and drug-resistant fungal disease is spreading throughout the country, and unfortunately, it seems like Texas is one of the most affected states.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that the fungus, which is known as Candida Auris or C. auris, is a "serious global health threat." The first known case was reported in 2015. According to the CDC:

Candida auris (C. auris) is a type of yeast that can cause severe illness and spreads easily among patients in healthcare facilities. It is often resistant to antifungal treatments, which means that the medications that are designed to kill the fungus and stop infections do not work.

Symptoms of C. auris vary depending on the location and severity of C. auris infection.

As you can see on this map, Texas is one of the most affected areas. The number of C. auris clinical cases through January of 2022 to December of 2022 ranged from 101 to 500.

The good news? This disease is not a threat to otherwise healthy people; the bad news? The disease typically spreads to patients in healthcare facilities, such as nursing homes and long care hospital stays.

C. auris mostly affects patients with severe underlying medical conditions and requiring complex medical care. Patients with invasive medical devices like breathing tubes, feeding tubes, catheters in a vein, or urinary catheters tend to be at increased risk for getting C. auris and developing an infection.

Healthy people without these risk factors, including healthcare workers and family members, have a low risk for getting infected with C. auris.

You can find out more about this deadly disease here.