Latest news with #fungalInfections
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Terrifying rise of fungal infection sweeping US
The killer fungi that led to the tragic death of Hollywood stylist Jesus Guerrero is exploding among people who previously have not been at risk. Guerrero, known for working with stars like Kylie Jenner and Jennifer Lopez, died at a Los Angeles hospital in February. The medical examiner confirmed the celebrity stylist died from two deadly fungal infections: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) and Cryptococcus neoformans, most likely a complication of AIDS, which was listed as a secondary cause of death. It is not known how he became infected. People with HIV or AIDS historically represent the largest population affected by the fungi, because of their weakened immune systems. However, cases are now alarmingly rising among broader populations, including non HIV or AIDS-immunosuppressed patients. North-American cryptococcal cases have jumped 62 percent since 2014, while UK Pneumocystis infections doubled. Aside from those battling HIV, these infections can more easily strike other people with weakened immunity, including patients undergoing cancer treatments, those who are on immunosuppressants after an organ transplant - and even those with a Covid infection. 'These individuals might not be on doctors' radar for infections like PJP, so they often aren't given preventive treatments the way HIV-positive patients are,' Dr Ehsan Ali, an internal medicine specialist. 'That delay in recognition and care can be life-threatening. The killer fungi that led to the death of Hollywood stylist Jesus Guerrero is exploding among people who previously have not been at risk Guerro, pictured with one of his former clients Kylie Jenner, succumbed to Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) and Cryptococcus neoformans, two fungal infections which are on the rise He likely developed the infections due to being HIV positive as AIDS was listed a secondary cause of death, however doctors are warning the infections are reaching other immunocompromised patients who don't have HIV or AIDS 'The growing number of non-HIV patients developing these infections is a sign that we need to rethink how we monitor and protect people with suppressed immune systems. 'Just because someone doesn't have HIV doesn't mean they're not at risk, and catching these infections early can be the difference between recovery and tragedy.' Pneumocystis jirovecii is a silent airborne killer whose spores float undetected. It attacks the lungs with deadly inflammation that drowns victims in fluid and deprives the body of oxygen, leading to multi-organ failure. Cryptococcus, meanwhile, hides in soil and bird droppings, invading lungs before migrating to the brain to cause fatal meningitis. There it unleashes a double onslaught of meningitis and encephalitis - brain swelling - often with fatal consequences. A trio of telltale signs of PJP – a dry cough (95 percent of patients), trouble breathing, and a low-grade fever (around 80 percent) – is a key indication of the fungal infection in the lungs. Since its discovery in the 1980s, PJP has been considered a disease solely of the immunocompromised, particularly in people suffering from AIDS. While typically believed to be a condition associated with HIV/AIDS, Dr Ali said patients undergoing chemotherapy, recovering from organ transplants, or taking medications like steroids or immunosuppressants for conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or Crohn's disease, represent a growing patient population. In 2005, three-year-old Eliza Jane [center] died from pneumocystis pneumonia caused by the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii Eliza Jane began vomiting and within hours, she collapsed. Tests revealed a severe case of pneumonia that had advanced past the ability to treat. Eliza Jane died the next day. In 2005, three-year-old Eliza Jane Scovill, who later tested HIV-positive, died from a pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii. Eliza Jane was born to a mother with HIV who denied the virus caused AIDS and so did not test her daughter for the condition. This which severely weakened the little girl's immune system and left her susceptible to infection. The youngster had been suffering from common cold symptoms and collapsed on May 15, 2005. She died the next day and an autopsy revealed she'd had pneumonia for weeks. But PJP has been shown to be even deadlier in non-HIV-positive patients with weakened immune systems. Global death rates in people with weakened immune systems but without HIV range from 30 to 60 percent, compared to 10 to 20 percent of HIV patients. Meanwhile, the global mortality rate of Cryptococcus neoformans infection is high in people with HIV – roughly 41 to 61 percent — and the early warning signs can be easy to miss. Doctors say it typically starts out with headaches, fever, cough, and shortness of breath. As it spreads, it can cause stiff neck, nausea, confusion, and sensitivity to light — signs the infection has reached the brain and triggered life-threatening meningitis. Cryptococcus hides in soil and bird droppings, invading lungs before migrating to the brain to cause fatal meningitis Your browser does not support iframes. Around 19 percent of AIDS-related deaths are due to meningitis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. Scientists are still trying to pinpoint the exact cause of the rising rates of fungal infections. The number of people with weakened immune systems is on the rise as rates of chronic illness and disease increase. Cancer rates and people being treated for the disease are steadily ticking up, translating to a growing population of immunocompromised people. Climate change also has a major role to play - with rising global temperatures potentially forcing fungi to grow in places it previously hasn't or evolve to become more adaptable and resistant to treatments. Robin May, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Birmingham in England, said: 'Since we have far fewer drugs against fungi than we do against bacteria, the antifungal arsenal is very limited, and resistance to only one or two drugs can render a fungus essentially untreatable.'
The Sun
29-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Warning as deadly fungal infections that enter the bloodstream on the rise – and scientists identify those most at risk
SEVERAL deadly fungal infections are on the rise in England, health chiefs warn - including one labeled a 'huge threat to humanity'. In 2024, cases of fungi entering the bloodstream rose slightly from 3.8 to 3.9 per 100,000 people, new figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reveal. 2 Most were found in vulnerable patients in hospitals, particularly those with weakened immune systems. Bloodstream infections caused by a type of fungus called yeast usually happen in hospitals, from yeasts that naturally live on our skin or inside our bodies. The main culprits behind these new infections are yeast species like Candida albicans, Nakaseomyces glabratus, and Candida parapsilosis. Candida albicans, or C. albicans as it is sometimes called, has already been named by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of 19 deadly fungi posing a serious threat to humanity. It's branded a superbug because it's becoming harder and harder to treat due to growing drug resistance. But UKHSA chiefs are most concerned about Candidozyma auris - a tougher, drug-resistant fungus that has also been reported and can be deadly and spreads easily in hospitals. Between 2013 and 2024, there were 637 reported cases of in England, with 178 just last year alone, data suggests. Once rare, it's been steadily rising, especially since the Covid pandemic restrictions ended. Experts say the rise may be linked to more complex surgeries, longer hospital stays, and increased antibiotic use – all of which can weaken the body's defenses. 'Our surveillance shows that serious fungal infections are having an increasing impact on public health," Professor Andy Borman from the UKHSA said. "The rise of drug-resistant C. auris means we must remain vigilant to protect patient safety.' To tackle this threat, UKHSA has stepped up surveillance and made C. auris a notifiable infection. This means hospitals must report cases quickly to help control outbreaks. What is antimicrobial resistance? Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health and development threat. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat. Source: WHO
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Climate change fuelling spread of deadly fungal infections, study warns
The climate crisis is rapidly expanding the global reach of life-threatening fungal infections, with rising temperatures enabling dangerous species to thrive in new regions, according to a new study. Two major fungal pathogens – Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus – are set to spread faster across new parts of Europe and other regions as warming continues, researchers warn. The findings raise fresh concerns about the growing health burden posed by fungal diseases, which remain understudied compared to other infectious threats. Using climate modelling, researchers from the University of Manchester found that A fumigatus, which causes aspergillosis, a severe and often fatal lung infection, could expand its geographical range by 77 per cent by 2100 under high-emission scenarios. The shift would potentially expose an additional nine million people across Europe to the fungus. Meanwhile, A flavus, which infects crops and produces carcinogenic aflatoxins, is projected to spread over 16 per cent more land globally. Its spread threatens both human health and food security, particularly in regions already vulnerable to climate stress. 'Changes in environmental factors, such as humidity and extreme weather events, will change habitats and drive fungal adaptation and spread,' Dr Norman van Rhijn, one of the authors of the study, said. The findings come amid growing concern that fungal infections – long neglected by global health policy – could spark a major public health crisis in coming decades. Unlike bacterial infections, fungi are harder to treat and resistant to many existing drugs. Despite the threat, less than 10 per cent of the world's estimated fungal species have been described. In 2022, the World Health Organisation listed fungal pathogens among its top priority threats for the first time. Despite this, fungal research remains underfunded. In response to the growing risks, the Wellcome Trust has announced over £50 million in funding for fungal disease research over the next year. 'We have already seen the emergence of the fungus Candida auris due to rising temperatures, but, until now, we had little information of how other fungi might respond to this change in the environment,' said Dr van Rhijn. 'Fungi are relatively under researched compared to viruses and parasites, but these maps show that fungal pathogens will likely impact most areas of the world in the future. Raising awareness and developing effective interventions for fungal pathogens will be essential to mitigate the consequences of this.' Experts warn that the spread of fungal infections may also be accelerated by extreme weather events such as storms, droughts and wildfires, all of which can disturb spores and create ideal conditions for fungal proliferation. While the study found that warmer climates could drive fungal spread across new parts of Europe, some parts of Africa may become too hot for certain fungi to survive. However, researchers warned that fungi's resilience, large genomes, and rapid adaptability make them capable of evolving in response to new conditions. Antifungal resistance is also increasing, driven in part by the widespread use of fungicides in agriculture. Many infections have high mortality rates, and existing antifungal treatments are limited due to toxicity and the biological similarity between fungi and humans. 'Fungal pathogens pose a serious threat to human health by causing infections and disrupting food systems. Climate change will make these risks worse,' Viv Goosens, research manager at Wellcome, said. 'To address these challenges, we must fill important research gaps. By using models and maps to track the spread of fungi, we can better direct resources and prepare for the future.'
The Independent
06-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Warning over killer fungus which could infect millions as it spreads across Europe
A killer fungus is set to spread through new parts of Europe due to rising temperatures, according to new climate change research. Aspergillus, a type of mould which can cause lung and breathing problems if it infects a human, may infect millions of people a year as it spreads to more northerly countries in Europe, Asia and America due to rising temperatures, the study shows. Norman van Rhijn, the Wellcome Trust research fellow at Manchester University who co-authored the study, said the world is nearing a tipping point regarding the rise of fungal pathogens, which thrive in a large variety of environments including inside houses. Fungal infections will be a factor in millions of deaths worldwide each year, Mr Rhijn said. Aspergillosis, the lung disease caused by spores of Aspergillus which can spread to other human organs, is one such disease. Speaking to the FT, Mr Van Rhijn said: 'We're talking about hundreds of thousands of lives, and continental shifts in species distributions. In 50 years, where things grow and what you get infected by is going to be completely different.' Aspergillus can have positive benefits and is used in industrial and food production, including the fermentation of soy sauce and sake. Inhaling its spores does not make everyone ill, but the deadly fungus can be particularly threatening to those with conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis or a weakened immune system. But fungal research shows Aspergillus fumigatus could spread across an additional 77 per cent of territory by the year 2100 as a result of the world's heavy use of fossil fuels, potentially exposing nine million people in Europe to the infection, according to the FT. The species can grow quickly in high temperatures in compost, explaining why it thrives in the 37C internal temperature of the human body. 'Its lifestyle in the natural environment may have provided Aspergillus fumigatus with the fitness advantage needed to colonise human lungs,' said professor Elaine Bignell, co-director at the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at Exeter University. Another species, aspergillus flavus, lives on crops and could spread to an added 16 per cent of territory in north China, Russia, Scandinavia, and Alaska by 2100, researchers added. Some existing areas in African countries and Brazil may also be made inhospitable - which could be damaging to local ecosystems. Darius Armstrong-James, professor of infectious diseases and medical mycology at Imperial College London, told the FT: 'There are serious threats from this organism both in terms of human health and food security.'
