Computer illustration of Candida fungi.
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Amid the cyclospora outbreak capturing national attention, a new multistate health concern is on the rise.
So far in 2026, nearly half of U.S. states have reported cases of Candida auris, a notoriously hard-to-treat “superbug” that mainly affects very sick people with underlying medical conditions. Texas is in the lead with more than 700 cases, followed by Michigan at around 500.
The good news is that C. auris is not a threat to most healthy people.
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What is Candida auris?
C. auris is a type of yeast that can lead to severe, life-threatening infections by entering the body through invasive medical devices, such as catheters, feeding tubes and breathing tubes. Healthy people are generally not at risk of infection.
The fungus can spread rapidly in healthcare settings. Patients who are infected with C. auris or have it on their skin can spread the fungus to surfaces like bedrails and doorknobs, where it can survive for long periods and infect others.
C. auris cannot be killed by most standard disinfectants and is often resistant to the antifungal medications used to treat it, making it a major concern in healthcare settings. Most infections, however, can be treated with combinations of antifungal medications, or a class of antifungal medications known as echinocandins.
What are the symptoms of C. auris?
Infections can occur in the blood and in different parts of the body, like wounds or ears, and can cause symptoms like fever and chills.
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There is not a common set of symptoms associated with C. auris, however, as symptoms can vary depending on the location of the infection and its severity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises hospital visitors and healthcare providers to frequently clean their hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water to prevent the spread of C. auris. Family members responsible for caring for someone diagnosed with C. auris are advised to consider wearing gloves when changing wound dressings or helping them bathe.
“As a patient, it’s important to clean any devices that you have and to avoid unnecessary touching without proper decontamination of your hands,” said Dr. Madhuri Sopirala, professor of infectious diseases at UT Southwestern and chief of infection prevention at Parkland Health and Hospital System.
Sopirala advises patients not to feel shy about correcting a healthcare worker if they aren’t washing their hands or wearing proper protective equipment
C. auris continues to spread
The total number of U.S. cases of C. auris has steadily increased since it was first reported in the country in 2016.
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As of June 18, 2026, over 23 states have reported cases of C. auris. There have been 706 reports in Texas, which has already surpassed the state’s 2025 total of 660 cases.
“It is important that healthcare facilities and public health folks take this seriously, which they are,” Sopirala said. Public health departments are working hard to track cases and taking measures to prevent transmission, she said.
Much remains to be known about the fungus, and, according to the CDC’s website, there is “a great need for more advanced resources to prevent, control and treat infections.”
The CDC has identified a few key areas of research and development, which include new drugs, rapid diagnostics and effective disinfectants.
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“I don’t expect this to completely disappear within the next year,” Sopirala said, “but we will hopefully see a trend down in the next few years, if not at least stabilization.”
Niamh Ordner is a science reporting fellow at The Dallas Morning News. Her fellowship is supported by the University of Texas at Dallas. The News makes all editorial decisions.