The Centers for Disease Control says a deadly fungus has been found in Pennsylvania, and the federal agency is warning state hospitals to be on the lookout for it.
Candida auris is a yeast infection first detected in Japan about a decade ago. It’s been slowly making its way across the United States and after being found in hospitals in New York and New Jersey, 33 cases were discovered in Pennsylvania in 2022, mostly in smaller hospitals, and almost all in the southeastern portion of the state. There were 12 cases in the state in 2021 and four in 2020.
Candida auris is spread by skin contact and has developed a resistance to antifungal drugs. It generally does not have much of an effect on those who get it, but can be fatal for people with weakened immune systems, those who have had an organ transplant, or those who are being treated for cancer. Testing options are limited and the State Department of Health is in the process of developing protocols for stopping the spread of the disease.
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