ATLANTA — Public health officials have a lot on their plate now: Outbreaks of measles and flu, soaring deaths from opioid overdoses, funding cuts. But for Dr. Anne Schuchat, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the scariest threats is a deadly fungus.
The lethal fungus, known as Candida auris, has has been identified in at least 61 people in the United States in recent years, mostly in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois. It is not clear how many of the patients have died, but the fungus is considered highly dangerous. And Schuchat fears it could spread.
The superbug poses a “catastrophic threat” to the public, Schuchat told STAT in a recent interview.
To submit a correction request, please visit our Contact Us page.
STAT encourages you to share your voice. We welcome your commentary, criticism, and expertise on our subscriber-only platform, STAT+ Connect