CDC Warns of Deadly Fungus Spreading in Texas

A nationwide alert to be vigilant for a dangerous fungus that is spreading has been sent out by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In Texas, there have already been verified cases.

Candida Auris: What is it?

The fungus is known as Candida Auris. In 2013, it was initially found in the United States. Cases have increased significantly since then. Although the majority of cases have been in East Coast states like New Jersey and New York, the fungus has now spread throughout the United States.

After spreading to the border states of Texas, the fungus first manifested in Texas in 2019.

C. auris is particularly likely to affect people with underlying medical conditions and those who spend a lot of time in healthcare environments. It spreads in nursing homes, long-term care centers, and hospitals. The majority of C. auris patients have compromised immune systems and may have been on a lot of antibiotics. Infection is more likely to occur in people who also have lines or tubes in their body, such as breathing, feeding, or catheter tubes.

Canadis Auris has a lengthy lifespan on surfaces.

For several weeks, C. auris can live and thrive on surfaces. Healthy individuals who have HPV on their skin without realizing it can spread it. In a medical center, getting rid of it is quite challenging.

The majority of healthy people shouldn't be concerned. The immune systems of healthy people typically shield them from the fungus. People who have the fungus on their skin might not even be aware that they are spreading it, which is another factor that makes it easy to spread.

Signs of the Canadis Auris

Because the dangerous fungus typically affects patients who are already ill and in the hospital, the Texas Department of State Health Services cautions that you might not notice any signs. To determine if a patient has C. aureus, a laboratory test is required.

Given that 30–60% of infected individuals will die, C. auris is regarded as a fatal illness. Antibiotics are ineffective against the fungus. Although echinocandis is the sole treatment available, the fungus has demonstrated resistance to all antifungal drugs.

It mostly depends on the patient's immune system's capacity to combat the infection.

There are 750 clinical instances in Texas, compared to just 38 in neighboring states like Louisiana. Cases increase dramatically as soon as the fungus begins to spread. The CDC is alerting healthcare facilities nationwide because of this.