SUMMER: NEW AT 6:00, THE CDC IS SOUNDING THE ALARM RIGHT NOW AS A DEADLY FUNGUS SPREADS IN HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL FACILITIES TARGETING PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS. THE FUNGUS KILLS 30% TO 60% OF THE PEOPLE WHO GET IT AND THE CDC SAYS HUNDREDS OF CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN FLORIDA. JIM: WESH 2’S MICHELLE MEREDITH SPOKE WITH A LOCAL DOCTOR ABOUT THE CONCERNS AND WHAT MAKES THIS INFECTION SO DIFFERENT. MICHELLE: THE FUNGUS IS CALLED CANDIDA AURIS, IS A FORM OF YEAST. IT DOESN’T SOUND THREATENING BUT THE CDC SAYS IT CAN BE DOWNRIGHT DEADLY, MAINLY FOR PEOPLE IN HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES, AND HEALTH FACILITIES. >> THAT POPULATION TENDS TO BE THE MOST HEALTH VULNERABLE THEY ARE INTUBATED THEY HAVE WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS OR THEY ARE PART OF OUR ELDERLY POPULATION. MICHELLE: WHILE MANY PEOPLE DO RECOVER FROM IT THE CDC REPORTS THAT ANYWHERE FROM 30% TO 60% OF THE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY DIE FROM THIS INFECTION. THE FUNGUS IS TRANSMITTED THROUGH PERSON TO PERSON CONTACT. AND IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN IT GETS IN YOUR BLOOD. >> ONCE IT GETS INTO YOUR BLOODSTREAM IT STARTS TO SHUT DOWN YOUR ORGANS. DON’T FORGET THE BLOOD SHOULD BE PRETTY CLEAN SO ANY INFECTIONS GET TO BE PRETTY SERIOUS. MICHELLE: SYMPTOMS ARE FEVER AND CHILLS THAT ARE NOT GOING AWAY WITH ANTIBIOTICS BUT THAT CAN HAPPEN WITH A LOT OF THINGS, SO THE FUNGUS CAN BE HARD TO SPOT. TO BE CLEAR, THE FUNGUS DOES NOT HAVE NUMBERS LIKE COVID. THE CDC REPORTS ABOUT 2,400 CASES NATIONWIDE WITH FLORIDA SHOWING 349 BUT THE CDC IS SOUNDING THE ALARM BECAUSE THE NUMBERS KEEP GOING UP AND FUNGUS
Deadly fungal infection already detected in Florida, spreading at alarming rate, CDC says
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is sounding the alarm as a deadly fungus spreads in hospitals and medical facilities, targeting people with serious health conditions. The fungus kills 30-60 percent of the people who get it and the CDC says hundreds of cases have been reported in Florida.The fungus, called candida auris, is a form of yeast. It may not sound threatening but according to the CDC, it can be downright deadly mainly for people in hospitals, nursing homes and health facilities. “That population tends to be the most health vulnerable. They are intubated. They have weakened immune systems or they are part of our elderly population,” said Dr. Rajiv Bahl, an emergency medical doctor in Orlando. “While many people do recover from it, the CDC reports that anywhere from 30 to 60 percent of the people can actually die from this infection,” Bahl said. The fungus is transmitted through person-to-person contact and is especially dangerous when it gets in your blood. “Once it gets into your bloodstream, it starts to shut down your organs. Don’t forget the blood should be pretty clean, so any infections get to be pretty serious,” Bahl said. If you are healthy, in most cases, you don’t have a lot to worry about, but symptoms are a fever and chill that don’t go away after being treated with antibiotics. A lot of diseases have similar symptoms, so it can be hard to spot. The fungus does not have the numbers of a COVID-19 outbreak. The CDC reports about 2,400 cases nationwide, with Florida being on the higher end of the spectrum. But the CDC is sounding the alarm because the numbers keep going up and the fungus is drug-resistant in many cases. Top stories:Deadly fungal infection already detected in Florida, spreading at alarming rate, CDC saysPublic health officials warn ‘zombie drug’ xylazine is circulating in Central FloridaCitizens Property Insurance to eventually require all customers carry flood insurance
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is sounding the alarm as a deadly fungus spreads in hospitals and medical facilities, targeting people with serious health conditions. The fungus kills 30-60 percent of the people who get it and the CDC says hundreds of cases have been reported in Florida.
The fungus, called candida auris, is a form of yeast. It may not sound threatening but according to the CDC, it can be downright deadly mainly for people in hospitals, nursing homes and health facilities.
“That population tends to be the most health vulnerable. They are intubated. They have weakened immune systems or they are part of our elderly population,” said Dr. Rajiv Bahl, an emergency medical doctor in Orlando.
“While many people do recover from it, the CDC reports that anywhere from 30 to 60 percent of the people can actually die from this infection,” Bahl said.
The fungus is transmitted through person-to-person contact and is especially dangerous when it gets in your blood.
“Once it gets into your bloodstream, it starts to shut down your organs. Don’t forget the blood should be pretty clean, so any infections get to be pretty serious,” Bahl said.
If you are healthy, in most cases, you don’t have a lot to worry about, but symptoms are a fever and chill that don’t go away after being treated with antibiotics. A lot of diseases have similar symptoms, so it can be hard to spot.
The fungus does not have the numbers of a COVID-19 outbreak. The CDC reports about 2,400 cases nationwide, with Florida being on the higher end of the spectrum. But the CDC is sounding the alarm because the numbers keep going up and the fungus is drug-resistant in many cases.
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