Sexually transmitted fungal infection outbreak hits Minnesota

Fox News • February 17, 2026 • health

Key Points:

Minnesota health officials are warning of an outbreak of a contagious fungal skin infection caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII (TMVII), which produces round, red, itchy rashes that can be painful.
The first Minnesota case was confirmed in July 2025, with 13 additional confirmed cases and 27 suspected, following the first U.S. case identified in New York in 2024; the CDC has confirmed cases in multiple cities.
TMVII spreads primarily through direct skin-to-skin contact, including sexual activity, and via contaminated objects like towels and communal surfaces, making men who have sex with men and commercial sex workers particularly at risk.
Diagnosis may require skin scraping as typical over-the-counter antifungal treatments