22-05-2025
Deadly Fungi Are Here, and They're Spreading
What spoils our crops, kills about six times more people than malaria every year and is breathed in by each of us every single day? It's not a virus or bacteria, but something even more formidable: fungi.
Aspergillus spores, for example, are ubiquitous in our environment. Most of the time, this group of molds cause no harm, but exposure to a pathogenic variety such as Aspergillus fumigatus or Aspergillus flavus can make an unlucky few, typically those with weakened immune systems or lung ailments, extremely ill. Invasive aspergillosis, for example, is a disease caused by spores invading lung tissue. An estimated 2.1 million people globally develop the disease every year, and 1.8 million people die.
