AI Image
infecting fungus that can kill 7 in 10 patients is on the rise across America
AOL.com • • health
Key Points:
- Cladophialophora bantiana, a rare black yeast-like mold that can infect the brain, is increasingly detected across the U.S., with cases nearly quadrupling between 2023 and 2025, according to CDC data.
- The fungus can affect healthy individuals as well as those with weakened immune systems, with about half of infections occurring in otherwise healthy people.
- The infection, which likely enters through inhalation or skin wounds and travels to the brain, has a high fatality rate of 60% to 70% even with aggressive treatment.
- Cases have been reported in 21 states and the District of Columbia, with the highest numbers in California, Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
- Early diagnosis is difficult due to the brain abscess presentation and limitations of current testing methods; treatment involves surgery and multiple antifungal drugs, prompting calls for improved national tracking and awareness.
