21 hours Ago By Annabel Bate
A DEADLY drug-resistant superbug is spreading “fast” in the US, with a whopping 2,000 cases in one single city.Candida auris, otherwise known as C. auris, is spreading across New York more than any other state in the US.
GettyCandida auris, otherwise known as C. auris, is spreading across New York[/caption]APA strain of Candida auris cultured in a petri dish at a CDC laboratory in 2016[/caption]It is a highly-transmissible fungal infection that can cause serious illness, particularly among vulnerable hospital patients.In some cases it won’t cause any symptoms, but some people experience a fever or chills, low blood pressure and a rash, and it can lead to bloodstream, wound and ear infections, according to Public Health England.
According to the CDC, there have been a whopping 10,788 confirmed cases of C. auris.And of those cases, 1,795 were found in New York State.
The CDC has chillingly called this disease an “urgent threat” and is fatal a terrifying 60 per cent of the time, reports claim.It states: “It is often resistant to multiple antifungal drugs, spreads easily in healthcare facilities, and can cause severe infections with high death rates.”Now, in New York alone, the state’s Department of Health has confirmed there have been nearly 90 more cases in 2025.
In comparison, last year there were 460 confirmed cases and in 2024 there were 412.It can spread in healthcare settings through, for example, contact with contaminates surfaces or equipment.It can also spread from physical contact with an infected person.
What is Candida auris?Candida auris is a fungus that, when it gets into the bloodstream, can cause dangerous infections that can be life-threatening.It’s not usually a threat to healthy people, but it can be deadly for those with weak immune systems – especially patients who are already sick, the elderly and newborns.It is often symptom-less, but some people experience a fever, chills, sweating, low blood pressure, fatigue, an increased heart rate, pain in the ear, and a rash.
In serious cases, Candida auris can cause ear and wound infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs) and infections in the blood that can spread to the rest of the body, like sepsis.Overall, it has a mortality rate of between 30 and 60 per cent.Candida auris was first identified in a patient in Japan in 2009.
Experts have warned that the killer fungal infection – that is resistant to drugs – is now sweeping the globe, with cases rising worldwide.Candida auris spreads through direct contact with someone who has it, or from touching a contaminated surface. It can also be passed on through medical devices.
In 2019, the UK Government issued a warning to hospitals about a new strain. There are now six known types, or clades.To prevent outbreaks, patients who test positive should be isolated, and there should be enhanced hygiene procedures and cleaning of affected clinical areas.
The New York State Department of Health stated: “Most C. auris infections are treatable with antifungal drugs. “However, some C.
auris infections have been resistant to all three main classes of antifungal medications, making them more difficult to treat.”According to officials, there are various reasons why they believe cases continue to increase.This includes poor general infection prevention and control practices in healthcare facilities.
In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) listed Candida auris as a “critical priority” for research and public health action.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also declared the fungus as “an urgent antimicrobial resistance threat” as it has become increasingly difficult to treat.Scientists have previously said it could trigger the next pandemic.
Cases are rising worldwide, increasing each year since 2016.GettyComputer illustration of the yeast and hyphae stages of Candida fungi[/caption].
