There’s a fungus among us! Can we please stop listening to the WHO now?
The WHO said Tuesday that the 19 species on the list merit urgent attention from public-health officials and drug developers. Four species were designated as threats of the highest priority: Aspergillus fumigatus, a mold found abundantly in nature; Candida albicans, which is commonly found in the human body; Candida auris, a highly deadly yeast; and Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungus that can cause deadly brain infections.
“Fungal infections are growing, and are ever more resistant to treatments, becoming a public health concern worldwide” said Hanan Balkhy, the WHO’s assistant director-general.
Fungal infections are estimated to kill at least 1.6 million people yearly, according to Global Action for Fungal Infections, a research and fundraising organization. In the U.S., more than 75,000 people are hospitalized with fungal infections every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Fatal Fungi Threaten Global Health, WHO Says – WSJ
Wear your mask and stay 6 feet away from all mushrooms and yeast. And don’t go into a hospital because they are the main vector of spread and infection!
The mortality rate of Candida auris, which often spreads in hospitals, can be as high as 60%, the CDC said. Globally, Cryptococcus neoformans is a major cause of illness in patients with HIV/AIDS and kills at least 180,000 people annually, the agency said.
Fatal Fungi Threaten Global Health, WHO Says – WSJ