A recently discovered and deadly fungus, Candida auris, has been confirmed in 23 states and is nearly impossible to treat. Since the first U.S. case was reported in 2013, cases have steadily risen, with 3,348 confirmed last year and 3,130 confirmed as of July 18.
The primary concern for its spread is in healthcare settings, where it easily transmits—often by asymptomatic individuals—and mostly affects people who are already very sick. Symptoms include fever, chills, lethargy, a drop in body temperature, low blood pressure, a higher heart rate, and a specific type of ear infection.
Those at the highest risk include patients reliant on invasive medical equipment like breathing tubes, feeding tubes, or catheters, as well as individuals who have overused antibiotics or antifungals. What makes Candida auris especially concerning is its resistance profile, as many strains resist azoles and some even resist amphotericin B, a drug of last resort. Cases are currently highest in Texas, where 706 cases have already surpassed the 660 recorded throughout the entirety of 2025, while Michigan follows in second with 503 cases.
Nathan Wiederhold, a professor and laboratory director at The University of Texas at San Antonio, notes that fungal infections are often overlooked compared to bacterial infections, yet they are much more difficult to diagnose and treat while showing increasing spread and resistance.
