ATLANTA (WLKI) - A drug-resistant fungus that can be deadly for medically vulnerable patients has been reported in 23 states so far in 2026.
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Candida auris continues to spread despite efforts to contain it.
Texas had reported more than 700 known cases as of mid-July, the most in the country. Michigan was close behind with 503 cases.
Candida auris was first reported in the United States in 2016. Some strains are resistant to all commonly used types of antifungal medication.
Healthy people may be able to fight off the fungus, but it poses a greater danger in health care settings, where patients may already be seriously ill. The fungus can remain on surfaces for long periods and spread through medical equipment including catheters, breathing tubes and intravenous lines.
A review of cases from 2022 through 2024 found about 88% of clinical infections occurred in people older than 45. Most patients were in acute-care settings.
The CDC has previously estimated that 30% to 60% of people with Candida auris infections have died, although many also had other serious illnesses that increased their risk of death.