Rising Threat: Drug-resistant Fungus Expands in Healthcare Settings
WHO:
CNN - Dr. Graham Snyder, medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
CNN - Dr. Scott Roberts, associate professor of infection prevention at Yale University.
CNN - Dr. Nitipong Permpalung, director of mycology research at Johns Hopkins University.
CNN - Dr. Ilan Schwartz, associate professor of medicine at Duke University.
USA Today - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
WHAT:
USA Today - Arizona recorded 171 cases of C. auris year-to-date in 2026, up from 133 cases during the same period in 2025, marking a nearly 30% increase.
USA Today - The United States is on track to reach the full-year total of 4,290 C. auris cases from 2025 before the end of 2026.
CNN - As of July 25, 3,437 clinical cases of Candida auris have been reported in 27 states.
USA Today - Approximately 3,437 clinically confirmed cases have been reported in 27 states as of the week ending July 25.
USA Today - The total number of clinical cases in 2025 was 4,290.
USA Today - C. auris cases have increased every year since 2019, with a 53.7% rise between 2022 and 2023.
USA Today - 95% of C. auris samples did not respond to fluconazole, a first-line antifungal treatment.
USA Today - The mortality rate for C. auris is suggested to be between 30% to over 60%.
WHERE:
USA Today - C. auris cases have been reported in 26 states, including Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
CNN - C. auris has been detected in healthcare facilities across the United States.
USA Today - The Pacific region, including Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington, has reported 886 cumulative cases.
USA Today - California has reported the most single-state infections, with 873 cases as of the week ending July 25.
WHEN:
CNN - The first case of C. auris was detected in Japan in 2009; the first case in the United States was detected in 2016.
USA Today - The week ending July 25 is referenced for the reported cases.
WHY:
CNN - C. auris is characterized as an “urgent threat” due to its multidrug-resistant nature.
USA Today - The increase in cases may be attributed to more robust screening and earlier diagnosis.
HOW:
CNN - C. auris spreads through contact with contaminated objects and people.
USA Today - The fungus can be present on the skin without causing symptoms, allowing for asymptomatic spread.
(UPDATED August 7, 2026 16:47 UTC)
Arizona has reported 171 cases of C. auris so far in 2026, which is a nearly 30% increase from the 133 cases recorded during the same period in 2025. The United States is on track to surpass the total of 4,290 C. auris cases from 2025 before the end of this year. Cases have been documented in 26 states across the country, including Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, and many others.
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(UPDATED August 7, 2026 11:44 UTC)
Recent reports indicate that there are currently 3,437 clinical cases of Candida auris across 27 states, with California alone accounting for 873 of those infections. This multidrug-resistant fungus, which has been labeled an “urgent threat,” has seen a significant rise in cases every year since 2019, including a staggering 53.7% increase between 2022 and 2023. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that 95% of C. auris samples do not respond to fluconazole, and the mortality rate for this infection ranges from 30% to over 60%.