Deadly Fungus Confirmed in 23 States. It’s Nearly Impossible to Treat

Cara Lynn ShultzTue, August 4, 2026 at 8:39 PM UTC

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Magnified view of the fungus Candida aurisCredit: BSIP/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty -

Candida auris cases are rising rapidly in the U.S., with 3,130 confirmed cases as of mid-July 2026

The fungus spreads easily in healthcare settings and primarily affects severely ill patients using invasive medical equipment

Many strains are resistant to major anti-fungal drugs, making treatment options extremely limited and concerning for experts

A recently discovered, deadly fungus is spreading across the U.S. — and treatment options are limited.

The first case of Candida auriswas reported in the U.S. in 2013, and cases have been steadily rising. Last year, there were 3,348 confirmed cases. The U.S. is already on track to beat that number: As of July 18, there were 3,130 confirmed cases, per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s latest data.

The biggest concern for the fungus’ spread is in healthcare settings. As the CDC explains, “C. auris can be multidrug-resistant and can cause life-threatening illness. It spreads easily in healthcare facilities and mostly affects people who are already very sick.”

Stock image of an intensive care unitCredit: Getty

It’s often transmitted by someone who is asymptomatic, the Cleveland Clinic says. It causes fever, chills, lethargy, a drop in body temperature, low blood pressure, but a higher heart rate, and a specific type of ear infection.

People who are sickened by C. auris are usually severely ill, with those at the highest risk of infection are patients reliant on invasive medical equipment, like breathing tubes, feeding tubes or catheters, or those who’ve overused antibiotics or antifungals in the past.

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“What makes Candida auris especially concerning is its resistance profile,” Nathan Wiederhold, PharmD, director of the Fungus Testing Laboratory and professor at The University of Texas at San Antonio told UT Health. “Many strains are resistant to azoles, one of our major antifungal drug classes, and some are also resistant to amphotericin B, which is often considered a drug of last resort.”

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Cases are highest in Texas, where the state’s count of 706 has already surpassed the amount of cases recorded in the state throughout the entirety of 2025 (660). Michigan comes in second with 503 cases. It’s bleak news for a state that’s already in the midst of a fatal outbreak of cyclospora.

“Fungal infections are often overlooked because they are not as common as bacterial infections,” Wiederhold said. “But they can be much more difficult to diagnose and treat, and we’re seeing increasing spread and resistance.”

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Source: “AOL Breaking”