Dangerous fungi are spreading more often. According to scientists, climate change may be to blame

A uncommon and serious fungal illness that has never been reported in the US was discovered in 2016 by hospitals in the state of New York. The fungus has been prevalent in the nation since at least 2013, according to research labs that sprung into action to evaluate previous specimens.

Since then, New York City has been the epicenter of Candida auris infections. And even though the virus has spread to other locations, the state continued to have the most confirmed cases in the nation each year up to 2021, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that was examined by The Associated Press.

An increasingly serious public health risk, Candida auris may lead to serious illnesses such bloodstream, wound, and respiratory infections. Its death rate has been estimated at 30% to 60%, and it poses a significant concern to patients who already have major medical conditions while they are in healthcare facilities.

In spite of the fact that patients in 29 states had the fungus clinically recognized, the states with the highest instances last year were Nevada and California. The state of New York is still a key hotspot.

Climate change is a popular explanation for the unexpected rise of Candida auris, which was previously undetected in humans until 2009.