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\nC. auris \u2014 a deadly and drug-resistant fungus \u2014 is rapidly spreading in hospitalsHealth officials call for urgent action to prevent further spread on a global scaleIn 2023, the fungus was found in 18 countries, and more than 10,000 clinical cases have been confirmed in the United States over the past decade<\/p>\n
Candidozyma auris (formerly known as Candida auris), a drug-resistant fungus<\/a> that can cause death and serious illnesses in people with weakened immune systems, is spreading \u201crapidly.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n On Thursday, Sept. 11, the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> (ECDC) confirmed that the fungus, which typically spreads within healthcare facilities, is hitting European hospitals and posing a serious threat.\n<\/p>\n \u201cCase numbers are rising, outbreaks are growing in scale, and several countries report ongoing local transmission,\u201d the agency said in a release.\n<\/p>\n The ECDC reported that five countries \u2013 Spain, Greece, Italy, Romania, and Germany \u2013 have accounted for the majority of cases over the past decade. In 2023, the fungus was found in 18 countries, and with the latest reports, the health agency calls for urgent action to prevent global spread.\n<\/p>\n \u201c\u200b\u200bC. auris has spread within only a few years \u2013 from isolated cases to becoming widespread in some countries,\u201d said Dr. Diamantis Plachouras, head of the ECDC\u2019s Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections section. \u201cThis shows how rapidly it can establish itself in hospitals. But this is not inevitable. Early detection and rapid, coordinated infection control can still prevent further transmission.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Candida auris.<\/p>\n BSIP\/Education Images\/Universal Images Group via Getty<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n