‘Urgent Threat': This Fast-Spreading Fungus Has Been Found in New York

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported 326 clinical cases of candida auris, a fast-spreading fungus, in the state of New York. The fungus is predominantly impacting patients that are already being treated at healthcare facilities, and can turn deadly for those who are already immuno-compromised.

We have the latest updates on what you need to know to keep you, and your family, safe.

Get our free mobile app

Candida Auris Spreading Around New York: What You Need to Know

A story from ABC News 10 in Albany shared an update from the CDC (The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention) on the spreading of the fungus candida auris to healthcare patients in 28 states around the country, including New York.

The CDC mapped out the spreading of the fungus in a graphic, which you can see embedded in the tweet below:

Most cases of C. auris are found in healthcare facilities, where it can infect patients who have already had their health compromised in some way. This can include long-term residents, those who are very ill for a short amount of time, or those who have invasive medical devices as part of their recovery.

What makes this so concerning, is that the fungus does not typically respond to anti-fungal drugs. So, if patients contract it, it can can enter patients’ bloodstreams and cause severe, deadly infections.

Luckily, however, it appears as though people who are currently healthy, and not patients at healthcare facilities right now, are largely safe from infection.

That is certainly good news, but it doesn't change the fact that the fungus is spreading in the United States, and spreading quickly. From December 2021 to December 2022, 2,377 clinical cases and 5,754 screening cases have been found in the United States. Three states have had more confirmed clinical cases than New York: Nevada (384), California (359) and Florida (349).

At this point, the best we can all do as New Yorkers is continue to support the healthcare workers in our area, as they continue to fight this fungus while also fighting for a return to normalcy in the wake of COVID-19.