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Health officials warn of superbug fungus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has its eye on another health issue — a superbug fungus has been found in a nursing home and two separate hospitals.

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The fungus, Candida auris, has been found in a handful of patients at a nursing home in Washington, D.C., and two hospitals in Dallas, Texas, The Associated Press reported.

The fungal infection has not been cured by all three major types of antifungal medications.

Candida auris is a type of yeast that can pose a danger to patients. It can be deadly if it enters the bloodstream, heart or brain and can be spread through patient contact or on contaminated surfaces, the AP reported.

In 2019, doctors had found three cases of the fungus that were resistant to echinocandins, or the last medication doctors used against fungal infections.

In those cases, the fungus became resistant to the medication during treatment.

But in the recent cases, which occurred from January to April, the cluster, which consisted of 101 people, was spread between patients, according to the CDC. There were also 22 cases in the Dallas area, according to the AP.

Five people had conditions that did not respond to any of the antifungal treatments. Two people died in Texas and one person died in D.C., the AP reported.

CDC officials combed over patient files and found no previous use of antifungal treatments, so they said that indicated person-to-person transmission.

For more on the outbreak, click here. For more information on Candida auris from the CDC, click here.