Deadly brain-infecting fungus on the rise in the US

Deadly brain-infecting fungus on the rise in the US Infections affects the central nervous system and can be fatal in 60% to 70% of cases Detections of a rare fungus that can cause deadly brain infections have risen fourfold in the United States over the last few years, according to research by the University of Washington and the CDC. The fungus, Cladophialophora bantiana, primarily affects the central nervous system and can form abscesses in the brain. Infections can be fatal in 60% to 70% of cases, even when patients receive aggressive treatment. The study, published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, recorded a fourfold increase in detections from 2023 to 2025. The reason for the rise remains unclear, with global warming suggested as a possible factor. Despite the reported increase, there is currently no US government tracking of infections caused by the fungus. Both immunocompromised patients and otherwise healthy individuals can be affected. The risk described in the research is not confined to those whose immune defences are already compromised. How infection takes hold Cladophialophora bantiana is a mould believed to be contracted through inhalation. Most of the infections described in the study were found in brain tissue, reflecting the fungus's tendency to affect the central nervous system. The brain abscesses it can cause are central to the severity of the infection. The reported fatality rate of 60% to 70% underscores how dangerous it can be, even with efforts to treat it aggressively. Researchers highlighted the need for greater clinical awareness. Their findings suggest surgical removal alongside antifungal therapy as possible treatment options for these infections. These approaches are presented as potential treatments, not a guarantee of recovery, given the high mortality reported despite treatment. Could global warming play a role? The possible role of global warming remains uncertain. Warming conditions may facilitate the spread and adaptation of fungal pathogens, offering one potential explanation for the increase. However, the cause of the rise in detections has not been established. The research brings together two concerns: an increase in detections of a rare pathogen and the severe consequences for those who develop an infection. The fourfold figure shows the change recorded over the two-year period, while the fatality figures indicate the severity of the disease. With no federal tracking currently in place, the study's reported increase has prompted calls for heightened clinical vigilance. The key findings remain the rise between 2023 and 2025, the fungus's ability to affect both healthy and immunocompromised people, and the challenge of treating an infection that can be deadly even with aggressive care.