Scientists in the United States have identified that a deadly fungus which kills nearly 3,000 people in the country each year enters the body through hair follicles. It weakens the immune system and alters the skin, making it more prone to infections. Known as Candida auris, this yeast variant enters the bloodstream and travels throughout the body, researchers wrote in the study. Calling it a superbug, scientists stated that nearly 3,000 cases have been reported in 23 states in the United States this year, with more than 700 of them in Texas.&nbsp;The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has labelled C. auris an "urgent antimicrobial resistance threat" because some of the strains of this fungus are resistant to most antifungal medications. According to the health agency, up to 60 per cent of people with C. auris infections have died, although in most cases the infected persons are already suffering from other underlying conditions. The fungus has contributed to roughly 3,000 deaths in the US each year, CDC data shows. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-say">Scientists say humans could live to a maximum age of 156 years. Here's how</a><h2>How does Candida auris infection occur?</h2> The fungus mostly infects people in hospitals and nursing homes. It can remain on an infected surface for weeks, making those coming in contact with it prone to catching it.<h2>Does Candida auris cause serious illness?</h2> Most people carrying the fungus on their skin won't even have symptoms. However, they can transfer it to people with compromised immune systems, which in turn could pose health issues for them. Symptoms include fever, chills, fatigue, low blood pressure and a rapid heart rate, according to the Cleveland Clinic.<h2>Understanding Candida auris and Candida albicans</h2> The researchers set out to understand why C auris can remain on the skin for months before presenting any symptoms, while C albicans is cleared quickly by the immune system. The researchers infected mice with both fungi, and noticed that C albicans vanished quickly, but C auris remained present. It did so by hiding itself in the hair follicles. The immune responses were also different in both cases. In the case of C. albicans, the IL-17 response was activated, which helped repair the skin’s surface and created conditions for the infection to be cleared. But in the case of C auris, interferon gamma, an immune signal usually used to fight viruses, was activated.&nbsp;The fungus made it happen by changing the outer wall structure and exposing more of a molecule called chitin. Dr Suzanne Noble, a professor of microbiology at UCSF and co-senior author of the study, said, "they were surprised to see that C. auris actively uses its chitin to turn the skin into a perfect nest."&nbsp;<h2>How to treat Candida auris?</h2> Currently, there is no one solid way to remove it from the skin. Some doctors use a mix of multiple antifungal medications to clear infections.

A deadly fungal infection has been reported in 23 states in the United States in 2026. Its exact fatality rate is hard to determine since it contributes to the death of a person with underlying conditions. A study has found that it hides in the hair, from where it enters the bloodstream.

Scientists in the United States have identified that a deadly fungus which kills nearly 3,000 people in the country each year enters the body through hair follicles. It weakens the immune system and alters the skin, making it more prone to infections. Known as Candida auris, this yeast variant enters the bloodstream and travels throughout the body, researchers wrote in the study. Calling it a superbug, scientists stated that nearly 3,000 cases have been reported in 23 states in the United States this year, with more than 700 of them in Texas. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has labelled C. auris an "urgent antimicrobial resistance threat" because some of the strains of this fungus are resistant to most antifungal medications. According to the health agency, up to 60 per cent of people with C. auris infections have died, although in most cases the infected persons are already suffering from other underlying conditions. The fungus has contributed to roughly 3,000 deaths in the US each year, CDC data shows. Also Read: Scientists say humans could live to a maximum age of 156 years. Here's how How does Candida auris infection occur? The fungus mostly infects people in hospitals and nursing homes. It can remain on an infected surface for weeks, making those coming in contact with it prone to catching it. Does Candida auris cause serious illness? Most people carrying the fungus on their skin won't even have symptoms. However, they can transfer it to people with compromised immune systems, which in turn could pose health issues for them. Symptoms include fever, chills, fatigue, low blood pressure and a rapid heart rate, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Understanding Candida auris and Candida albicans The researchers set out to understand why C auris can remain on the skin for months before presenting any symptoms, while C albicans is cleared quickly by the immune system. The researchers infected mice with both fungi, and noticed that C albicans vanished quickly, but C auris remained present. It did so by hiding itself in the hair follicles. The immune responses were also different in both cases. In the case of C. albicans, the IL-17 response was activated, which helped repair the skin’s surface and created conditions for the infection to be cleared. But in the case of C auris, interferon gamma, an immune signal usually used to fight viruses, was activated. The fungus made it happen by changing the outer wall structure and exposing more of a molecule called chitin. Dr Suzanne Noble, a professor of microbiology at UCSF and co-senior author of the study, said, "they were surprised to see that C. auris actively uses its chitin to turn the skin into a perfect nest." How to treat Candida auris? Currently, there is no one solid way to remove it from the skin. Some doctors use a mix of multiple antifungal medications to clear infections.

A deadly fungal infection has been reported in 23 states in the United States in 2026. Its exact fatality rate is hard to determine since it contributes to the death of a person with underlying conditions. A study has found that it hides in the hair, from where it enters the bloodstream.

Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states

A fungus that is resistant to drugs and extremely lethal is fast spreading across the world, a new study has found. According to researchers, the risk to public health from Candida auris has increased sharply, and there is an urgent need to develop "antifungal agents with broad-spectrum activity against human fungal pathogens." C. auris was only discovered in 2009 and cannot be treated with existing drugs. Outbreaks of the fungus have been reported across the globe, including in the US, in the past, triggering a need for better diagnostic systems and medicines. The paper on the fungus was published in the journal Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. The fungus has been found in over 50 countries till now and in at least 39 US states.&nbsp;Study authors wrote, "Taken together, these data underscore the need to develop novel antifungal agents with broad-spectrum activity against human fungal pathogens, to improve diagnostic tests, and to develop immune- and vaccine-based adjunct modalities for the treatment of high-risk patients." A study noted last year that fungal infections are responsible for the death of nearly 4 million people every year. However, Candida auris is a deadlier one, first seen inside the ear of a patient in Japan.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/zombie-spiders-infected-by-a-fungus-invade-us-homes-people-fear-the-last-of-us-like-apocalypse-can-it-infect-humans-1755861628898">Zombie spiders infected by a fungus invade US homes. People fear 'The Last of Us'-like apocalypse. Can it infect humans?</a><h2>Candida auris infection on skin and blood are lethal</h2>People with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of being infected by the fungus, as it can quickly turn life-threatening. According to research, it can kill one-third of affected patients whose skin is directly affected by it, and if it enters the bloodstream, the fatality rate climbs to 50 per cent. Candida auris becomes a bigger risk because it is resistant to the most common antifungal medications, including instances where it was found to be resistant against all four major classes of antifungals. Additionally, current tests fail to detect the fungus and often misclassify it as another Candida species.&nbsp;Climate change is believed to be driving its spread globally, as the fungus has adapted to increasingly warmer temperatures. Scientists have warned that better methods to detect it are needed, along with drugs that can fight the fungus.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A deadly fungus is fast spreading across the globe, according to scientists, who have raised concerns about current tests that fail to identify it on time. It is resistant to current medicines and has already been detected in over 50 countries. 

A fungus that is resistant to drugs and extremely lethal is fast spreading across the world, a new study has found. According to researchers, the risk to public health from Candida auris has increased sharply, and there is an urgent need to develop "antifungal agents with broad-spectrum activity against human fungal pathogens." C. auris was only discovered in 2009 and cannot be treated with existing drugs. Outbreaks of the fungus have been reported across the globe, including in the US, in the past, triggering a need for better diagnostic systems and medicines. The paper on the fungus was published in the journal Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. The fungus has been found in over 50 countries till now and in at least 39 US states. Study authors wrote, "Taken together, these data underscore the need to develop novel antifungal agents with broad-spectrum activity against human fungal pathogens, to improve diagnostic tests, and to develop immune- and vaccine-based adjunct modalities for the treatment of high-risk patients." A study noted last year that fungal infections are responsible for the death of nearly 4 million people every year. However, Candida auris is a deadlier one, first seen inside the ear of a patient in Japan. Also Read: Zombie spiders infected by a fungus invade US homes. People fear 'The Last of Us'-like apocalypse. Can it infect humans? Candida auris infection on skin and blood are lethal People with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of being infected by the fungus, as it can quickly turn life-threatening. According to research, it can kill one-third of affected patients whose skin is directly affected by it, and if it enters the bloodstream, the fatality rate climbs to 50 per cent. Candida auris becomes a bigger risk because it is resistant to the most common antifungal medications, including instances where it was found to be resistant against all four major classes of antifungals. Additionally, current tests fail to detect the fungus and often misclassify it as another Candida species. Climate change is believed to be driving its spread globally, as the fungus has adapted to increasingly warmer temperatures. Scientists have warned that better methods to detect it are needed, along with drugs that can fight the fungus.

A deadly fungus is fast spreading across the globe, according to scientists, who have raised concerns about current tests that fail to identify it on time. It is resistant to current medicines and has already been detected in over 50 countries.&nbsp;

Lethal fungus resistant to drugs has picked up pace across the world, scientists warn

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