This frightening fungus is called Candida auris, and its origins remain a mystery.
Scientists have revealed that the Candida auris fungus may pose an increasing threat to humans, especially in the context of global warming.
In 2009, a new type of fungus was discovered in the ear of a woman living in Tokyo, Japan, and it was named Candida auris.
Seven years later, it was first identified in the United States, and to this day, Candida auris has been found in 28 states and the District of Columbia.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Candida auris has infected over 2,300 people in the U.S. in the past year, with an “alarming rate.”
A scientist holding a petri dish containing the deadly fungus Candida auris in a laboratory in Wuerzburg, Germany. (Photo: Getty Images).
Initial studies suggest that rising global temperatures may have facilitated its adaptation to thrive within the human body.
However, the origin of the fungus remains a mystery, and the exact location of its emergence is still unclear.
The Candida auris fungus begins to grow inside the body of the infected individual, subsequently multiplying in the bloodstream or in existing wounds.
Infections primarily occur in individuals with weakened immune systems who frequently require medical treatment, where they may be exposed to contaminated medical equipment.
Dr. Ostrosky from the Department of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology at UTHealth Houston warns: “If you are a patient who frequently interacts with the healthcare system, you should be vigilant about this.”
What makes Candida auris particularly concerning is its difficulty to detect and its resistance to treatment.
When this fungus is identified, it often shows resistance to antifungal treatments, and its spores can survive on surfaces outside the body for weeks.
This means that even if you have been treated successfully, you can still be reinfected.
The CDC estimates that approximately 30 to 60 percent of those infected with this fungus have died, but they note that many victims had pre-existing health conditions.
Ostrosky suggests that the recent increase in infections may be attributed to a shortage of staff and medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading some hospitals to implement measures such as reusing protective equipment.
Global warming facilitates fungal growth
The human body is typically too warm for this fungus to survive.
However, climate change is raising average temperatures and making heat waves more common and extreme, enabling the fungus to evolve to withstand higher temperatures in the environment.
As a result, they are more likely to thrive within us.
A 2019 article hypothesized that this fungus has emerged as a global health threat to humans.
In August of last year, researchers in Austria urged for a “coordinated global action” to address the outbreak of such diseases.
“These challenges serve as a serious reminder of our long-term vulnerability to infectious diseases, and humanity will certainly have to confront and manage these threats in the future,” the research team stated.
For years, scientists have warned that climate change would alter weather patterns and increase temperatures to the extent that new diseases could emerge.
Since the discovery of Candida auris in Japan, there has been increasing evidence of infections and the spread of this fungus due to extreme weather conditions.
In 2017, Hurricane Harvey struck Houston, Texas, exposing residents to deadly mold left behind in the standing water after the storm.
Additionally, drier conditions due to extreme drought in many areas are helping to spread fungal spores further.
Asiya Gusa, a molecular geneticist at Duke University in North Carolina, stated: “The potential for larger mutations to occur in response to rising temperatures is a major concern for us. What we fear is that these fungi may be inhaled into the lungs in the form of spores in the air.”
In a study published in January 2022, Gusa’s team analyzed Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungus commonly found in soil that causes infections, meningitis, pneumonia, and even death.
The results showed that when heated from 30°C to 36.6°C, the genes found in the DNA of this fungus were more likely to “jump” around and mutate, revealing their adaptability.
It is evident that pathogenic fungi today may adapt faster as the Earth grapples with global warming, facilitating the emergence of new disease-causing viruses, which is a concerning situation.
