51 Cases of Deadly Fungus Reported in Iowa

Candida auris is a type of yeast that’s hard to treat and can make people very sick. It can live on the skin and spread easily in hospitals and care facilities, leading to outbreaks that are tough to stop.

The best way to control it is to catch it early and use strong infection prevention methods.

According to NBC Chicago, there were 469 Midwest cases as of April 26. Iowa has 51 of those cases.

What is Candida Auris?

As mentioned above, it's a yeast, or fungus, that is dangerous and difficult to treat because it's drug-resistant.

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Candida auris is not usually dangerous for healthy people, but it can be deadly for those in hospitals or nursing homes. It spreads easily and can infect wounds, ears, or even the bloodstream.

Some strains are called “superbugs” because they don’t respond to any of the common medicines used to treat fungal infections.

Health officials say it’s now showing up in more states, including Iowa.

Since 2020, cases have more than tripled nationwide.

It's not something to become overly concerned about, but in a way, it sort of echoes the plot for the video game-turned-popular HBO series The Last of Us...

Treatment for Candida Auris

While the fungus is largely unable to be treated with most antifungal drugs, some are still effective.

While some Candida auris infections can be deadly, the CDC says limited data shows that 30–60% of infected patients have died.

Many of them were already seriously ill or had other health problems that raised their risk.

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Other Midwestern Cases and Origin

As mentioned, Iowa had 51 reported cases as of late April. Illinois had seen 25 cases. Michigan saw 149, Ohio 125, Indiana 82, and Wisconsin had only one.

Many of the early cases that appeared in the U.S. were infections that had been imported from overseas. Now, however, most infections are spread within the U.S.

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