A deadly fungal infection is spreading quickly across the US, with a death rate as high as 60%. This rare fungus, known as ‘Candida auris’, is resistant to drugs, spreads easily in medical facilities and has a high fatality rate, doctors warn.
Washington State confirmed its first cases last month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that more than one in three patients infected with an invasive form of the fungus die. After reporting its first case on January 10, 2024, Seattle and King County announced three more infections last week.
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Kindred Hospital Seattle First Hill confirmed that the patients were asymptomatic and being “appropriately isolated from the rest of the patient population with extra clinical and cleaning precautions to prevent spread.” The deadly fungus typically affects those with weakened immune systems and is resistant to several common anti-fungal drugs.