AI Image
Rare brain fungus with 70% fatality rate rising in healthy patients
Fox News • • health
Key Points:
- The rare fungal infection Cladophialophora bantiana, which can infect the brain and affects healthy individuals, has seen a near quadrupling of cases in the U.S. between 2023 and 2025, according to CDC data.
- From 2009 to 2026, 48 confirmed cases were identified across 21 states and D.C., with a median patient age of 68, and about half of infections occurring in people without weakened immune systems.
- The fungus likely enters the body through inhalation or skin wounds and primarily infects brain tissue, causing severe infections with a 60-70% fatality rate despite aggressive treatment.
- The increase in cases is not attributed to more testing, as detection rates per brain tissue specimen rose significantly, prompting calls for national tracking and better reporting mechanisms.
- Early diagnosis is difficult due to the fungus typically causing brain abscesses without external symptoms, and experts urge clinicians to consider C. bantiana in patients showing brain abscess signs.
