A drug-resistant fungus has been detected in 23 states in 2026, including Wisconsin, where dozens of cases have been reported.
Candida auris is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening type of fungus resistant to most antifungal medications, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. It was first detected in the United States in 2013, and Wisconsin had its first case in 2022.
Since then, Wisconsin has had more than 100 cases, with 31 reported cases in 2026, though that figure is “provisional and subject to change,” according to Wisconsin DHS spokesperson Jennifer Miller. Infections spread mostly in health care settings among people with weakened immune systems or people who have medical devices in their bodies, she said.
“While still relatively rare, this fungus is becoming more common,” the agency’s website says.
Texas has reported the most cases in 2026, with 715 as of July 25, followed by two Wisconsin neighbors: Michigan with 518 and Illinois with 379, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There were more than 6,000 cases reported nationwide in 2024, according to a CDC report released in March.
How does Candida auris spread?
The fungus spreads through touch and can live on surfaces for long periods of time. That means touching infected hands or clothing can spread the disease. Washing your hands, keeping surfaces clean and watching out for signs of infection are ways to stay safe, among other DHS recommendations.
What are the symptoms of infection?
There are so many possible symptoms that a lab test is the only way to know if someone is infected with Candida auris.
“You may not notice symptoms of C. auris because patients with this type of fungus are often already sick in the hospital with another serious illness or condition,” the DHS website says. “If you do notice symptoms, they depend on which part of the body is affected. C. auris can cause many different types of infections, such as bloodstream, wound, and ear infections.”
The CDC estimates 30% to 60% of people with Candida auris infections have died, though many also had other serious health conditions that increased their risk, USA TODAY Network reported.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Drug-resistant fungus spreads to 23 states including Wisconsin
Reporting by Blaise Mesa, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Blaise Mesa, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
