Is there a new global health threat? Fungal superbugs spread panic with climate change expanding its reach
WHO lists 19 fungal species as urgent priorities
Live Events
Climate change could exacerbate the spread
Urgent need for antifungal innovation
FAQs:
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
A new global health threat is emerging—drug-resistant fungal infections . These microscopic fungal spores like Coccidioides , responsible for valley fever , are infecting people who inhale them from air or soil, even in their own backyards.Torrence Irvin from California became critically ill after he unknowingly inhaled the spores. Doctors took nearly a year to correctly diagnose him. However, by that time, he had lost a significant amount of weight and nearly died.As per a CNN report, another survivor Rob Purdie contracted fungal meningitis after he inhaled spores while gardening and now depends on lifelong toxic treatments. Aspergillus fumigatus , another dangerous fungus, could spread across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and will affect millions of vulnerable individuals. This fungus, a study said, thrives in warm, damp environments and could potentially infect people by invading their lungs, particularly those who have underlying health issues like asthma, cystic fibrosis, or weakened immune systems.The World Health Organisation (WHO) reportedly has enlisted nearly 6.5 million invasive fungal infections. This, they said, results in 3.8 million deaths globally each year and the numbers are climbing due to increasing drug resistance.They listed 19 fungal species under urgent priorities for new drug development, among which Aspergillus fumigatus is one. Other dangerous species include Cryptococcus neoformans (deadly meningitis), Candida auris (highly drug-resistant hospital infections) and Candida albicans (common yeast that can become invasive).The CNN report stated that developing antifungal drugs is especially challenging since fungi are genetically closer to humans than bacteria. This means, the treatments can harm human cells, which could result in kidney failure, liver damage, or other severe side effects.Dr Neil Clancy, an infectious disease specialist and associate professor of medicine at University of Pittsburgh, told CNN that if an antifungal drug is being made, it is crucial to come up with formulations that will not harm genes and human proteins.Experts have noted that changing climate patterns, wildfires, and dust storms likely expand the fungi's geographic reach. Reportedly, cases of Coccidioides infection have been reported in over 20 US states, including regions which previously were unaffected.The study on Aspergillus fumigatus stated it could expand across an additional 77 per cent of global territory by 2100 as climate change is accelerated. Researchers have estimated that 9 million people in Europe alone could be exposed to infection risks if fungus takes hold.Reportedly, the fungus can grow rapidly in compost at high temperatures and can survive the human body's internal heat of 37°C. It was also found thriving in extreme environments like Chernobyl's nuclear reactors.Experimental drugs like Olorofim offer hope, however, experts have warned that limited specialist access and lack of public awareness could leave many patients untreated or misdiagnosed. More research, better treatments, and physician training are urgently needed to confront this growing fungal superbug threat, stated the CNN report.Professor Elaine Bignell, co-director at the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at Exeter University, said that the development of new antifungal treatments has been slow. One key reason, as per an NDTV report, is financial unattractiveness of investing in antifungal medicines.Reportedly, the antifungal medicines are costly to develop and often spotted as less profitable compared to others in drug market.They are fungal infections that no longer react to usual antifungal treatment, so they are more difficult to treat and are possibly fatal.WHO includes species such as Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida auris, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Coccidioides among the most lethal ones.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Perseids meteor shower tonight: Here's how to watch rare sight and Northern Lights
The night sky promises an extraordinary display tonight, August 13, as one of the year's brightest meteor showers, the Perseids, coincides with possible sightings of the northern lights. The Perseids, known for their fast and brilliant fireballs, are caused by debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle burning up in Earth's atmosphere. At the same time, auroral activity may occur thanks to ongoing solar winds interacting with Earth's magnetic field, reported People. Where and when to watch the Perseids and Northern Lights. (Owen Humphreys/PA) When to watch the Perseids According to another CNN report, the Perseids peaked earlier on Tuesday afternoon, but the best viewing opportunities come tonight in the early hours of Wednesday. There are two main windows for catching meteors: Evening Window (Aug. 12–13): Between dusk and moonrise, there's roughly an hour of darker skies before the bright waning gibbous moon rises. Pre-Dawn Window (Aug. 13): The last couple of hours before sunrise offer another chance. While the moon will still be bright, the most luminous meteors can be spotted by facing north toward the constellation Perseus. This year's full moon glow will limit visibility to around 10-20 meteors per hour instead of the usual 40-50, but bright fireballs will still stand out, the CNN report added. Also read: Atlas may not be a typical comet, could be alien mission, says Harvard physicist When and where to see the Northern Lights The People report cited NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, solar wind streams from multiple coronal holes are boosting auroral potential with the Kp index expected to reach about 3.67. While the chance of a minor G1 geomagnetic storm is slowly declining, northern regions like Alaska and northern Canada could see shimmering auroras tonight if the skies are dark and clear. Other celestial sights tonight In addition to meteors and auroras, skywatchers can spot Venus and Jupiter, which are still close after a conjunction, shining brightly in the eastern sky before sunrise, the CNN report stated. Saturn will also be rising before midnight near the moon, which will add to the night's spectacle. Viewing tips Find a dark site far away from city lights. Your eyes will need nearly half an hour to get accustomed to the dark environment. Look north for auroras; celestial objects around 40° over Perseus herald meteor activity. Make sure you are dressed for the cold and bring a blanket or chair. Be patient, as the very best shows can take their time. FAQs What causes the Perseids? They are fragments from Comet Swift-Tuttle burning up in Earth's atmosphere at high speeds. Why is the meteor count lower this year? The bright moonlight washes out fainter meteors. Where can I see the northern lights? Best chances are in far northern regions such as Alaska and northern Canada. When is the next big meteor shower? The Orionids, peaking October 22–23, will be the next major celestial event.
NDTV
5 hours ago
- NDTV
'Godfather Of AI' Reveals Bold Strategy To Save Humanity From AI Domination
Geoffrey Hinton, the British-Canadian computer scientist known as the "Godfather of AI", has expressed concerns that the technology he helped develop could potentially wipe out humanity. According to Mr Hinton, there's a 10-20% chance of this catastrophic outcome. Moreover, he's sceptical about the approach tech companies are taking to mitigate this risk, particularly in ensuring humans remain in control of AI systems. "That's not going to work. They're going to be much smarter than us. They're going to have all sorts of ways to get around that," Mr Hinton said at Ai4, an industry conference in Las Vegas, as per CNN. The scientist also warned that future AI systems could manipulate humans with ease, likening it to an adult bribing a child with candy. His warning comes after recent examples have shown AI systems deceiving, cheating, and stealing to achieve their goals, such as an AI model attempting to blackmail an engineer after discovering personal information in an email. Instead of trying to dominate AI, Mr Hinton suggested instilling "maternal instincts" in AI models, allowing them to genuinely care about people, even as they surpass human intelligence. "AI systems will very quickly develop two subgoals, if they're smart: One is to stay alive… (and) the other subgoal is to get more control. There is good reason to believe that any kind of agentic AI will try to stay alive," Mr Hinton said. He believes fostering a sense of compassion in AI is of paramount importance. At the conference, he pointed to the mother-child relationship as a model, where a mother's instincts and social pressure drive her to care for her baby, despite the baby's limited intelligence and control over her. While he expressed uncertainty about the technical specifics, he stressed that researchers must work on this challenge. "That's the only good outcome. If it's not going to parent me, it's going to replace me. These super-intelligent caring AI mothers, most of them won't want to get rid of the maternal instinct because they don't want us to die," he added. Geoffrey Hinton is renowned for his groundbreaking work on neural networks, which laid the foundation for the current AI revolution. In May 2023, he quit his job at Google so he could freely speak out about the risks of AI.
Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Indian Express
Top 10 cleanest countries in the world 2024: Estonia, Luxembourg, and Norway score highest in cleanliness index
Top 10 cleanest countries in the world: Life expectancy is closely linked to cleanliness. Access to clean air and water, effective waste disposal, and proper sanitation can help people live longer, healthier lives. In countries where pollution levels are high, there are more deaths from non-communicable diseases. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), these diseases are responsible for 74 per cent of all deaths worldwide. Right now, it is important to reduce all types of pollution to improve people's quality of life. The information here comes from the 2024 Environmental Performance Index (EPI). Yale University, Columbia University, and the World Economic Forum collaborated to produce the EPI. It assesses the cleanliness and environmental friendliness of 180 nations. The index, which focuses on three primary objectives—preserving ecosystems, combating climate change, and improving environmental health—is based on 58 indicators in 11 categories. These include things like biodiversity, the preservation of natural habitats, sustainable practices, air quality, and water and sanitation. The world is still a long way from being entirely sustainable, but certain nations have made significant strides. From the cleanest to the most polluted, each nation is assigned a score, providing governments with a means of gauging the effectiveness of their environmental policies and monitoring their advancements towards a healthier, cleaner future. Source: Environmental Performance Index Estonia tops the list with outstanding results in air purity, ecosystem care, and climate initiatives. The country is well-known for promoting renewable energy, managing forests responsibly, and running carbon-neutral public transport. It combines modern digital advancements with a strong commitment to protecting nature. Small in size but big in environmental achievements, Luxembourg performs exceptionally in water quality (90.6) and sanitation (99.8). More than half of its land is under environmental protection, and it ranks high in biodiversity (84.8) thanks to strict EU environmental rules. Germany achieves full wastewater treatment coverage with a strong score of 89.1 and does well in biodiversity protection (82.4). The country proves that industrial power can coexist with green spaces and well-planned conservation programs. Finland earns perfect marks in sanitation, safe drinking water, and controlling heavy metal pollution. Its air remains clean, forests are well protected, and environmental care is deeply woven into everyday living. With over 30 per cent of its oceans protected, the UK is unique in its efforts to conserve its maritime areas. While pursuing aggressive environmental and climatic goals, it has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by about a third over the last ten years. Renowned worldwide for clean energy use and low carbon emissions, Sweden excels in air purity, sanitation, and heavy metal pollution control. It also maintains healthy forests and works to reduce pollution from farming. With excellent anti-pollution measures, Norway receives a perfect score of 100 for managing heavy metals and 82.9 for air quality. It remains at the forefront of green energy leadership since nearly all of its electricity originates from renewable sources. Austria enforces tight controls on pesticides, fertilizers, and pollutants, earning a sanitation score of 96.0. With two-thirds of its land covered in forests and meadows, the country keeps its landscapes lush and well-preserved. In terms of cleanliness, heavy metal control, and clean drinking water, Switzerland achieves flawless outcomes. Known for its stunning landscapes, it also upholds stringent environmental regulations to safeguard its abundant wildlife. Denmark is a leader in reducing heavy metal pollution and makes significant investments in organic farming, renewable energy, and environmentally conscious travel. Even if it has recently slowed its rate of emission reduction, it is still a global sustainability model.
