Urgent Health Warning Issued as Dangerous Fungi Spread Across the UK

A serious health alert has been issued as a potentially deadly fungus, described as a “threat to humanity,” is spreading throughout the UK. Candidozyma auris (previously known as Candida auris) was first identified in a patient's ear canal in Japan in 2009 and has now been reported in over 40 countries across six continents.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has raised alarm over the fungus due to its extraordinary ability to survive on surfaces for long periods. It is highly resistant to disinfectants and many common antifungal treatments. Infections can be severe, impacting the bloodstream, brain, spinal cord, bones, abdomen, wounds, respiratory system, and urinary tract.

People with underlying health conditions are at higher risk. In serious cases, the fungus can be fatal for between 30% and 60% of those infected, according to The Express. The UKHSA warned that while the fungus is not yet widespread in England, its potential for rapid transmission in hospital settings makes it a growing concern. The agency emphasized the importance of infection control, hygiene, and continued monitoring to help contain its spread.

C. auris typically spreads through contact with contaminated surfaces, medical equipment, or directly from people who carry it on their skin. Colonization—carrying the fungus without showing symptoms—can still lead to infection, especially if the fungus enters the body through wounds or medical devices like catheters or IV lines.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently included C. auris in its list of 19 most dangerous fungal threats to humanity. The WHO noted that fungal infections often receive little attention or funding, leading to limited data and poor tracking of antifungal resistance.

Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Assistant Director-General for Antimicrobial Resistance, stated that fungal infections are becoming more resistant to treatments and should be considered a major global health concern.

In a related warning, a new climate study has raised alarms about the potential spread of another deadly fungus, Aspergillus, which is already widespread in tropical and subtropical regions. This fungus causes severe brain infections, kills livestock, and contaminates food crops.

Rising global temperatures are accelerating its spread, with researchers warning that the UK may soon see cases. Dr. Norman van Rhijn of the University of Manchester told Sky News that “the real threat is already here,” and infections like invasive aspergillosis currently kill around 1.8 million people worldwide each year.

With climate change altering ecosystems, fungi such as Aspergillus fumigatus, flavus, and niger are expected to migrate northward from Africa and South America into Europe, the UK, and even Scandinavia. Even in optimistic climate scenarios limiting global warming to 2°C, the spread of these fungi is likely to continue—though some may retreat from parts of southern Europe that become too hot for them to thrive.