"Breaks Through the Blood-Brain Barrier, Filling the Brain with Pus"... U.S. Alarmed by Fungus with 70% Fatality Rate as Cause Remains Unknown

Brain-damaging fungus "Cladophialophora bantiana"
60-70% fatality rate... Routes of infection and cause of increase remain unknown

A fungus that causes fatal brain damage is spreading rapidly in the United States. Experts are increasingly concerned as the clear cause of the sharp rise in infections remains unknown.

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“Brain-Infecting Fungus” Has a 60-70% Fatality Rate... Infections Quadruple in Two Years

According to foreign media outlets, including the UK’s Daily Mail, on October 15 local time, researchers at the University of Washington and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said infections with Cladophialophora bantiana, a fungus that damages brain tissue, had increased about fourfold in the past two years. The study was published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

From 2009 to 2023, the United States recorded between one and five infections a year. The number rose to eight in 2024 and then increased to 14 in 2025. A total of 48 patients were recorded from January 2009 through July this year.

The fungus is known to have a fatality rate of 60-70%.

Cases were reported in 21 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. California had the most, with six cases. Florida and Texas followed with five cases each, and Pennsylvania had four. The average age of patients was 68. By site of infection, brain tissue accounted for most cases at 88%, while the lungs accounted for 12%.

Cases have also been reported in Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, India, France, Belgium, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and Malaysia.

Causes Abscesses in the Brain, Along With Headaches and Vomiting... “Cause Still Unknown”

Cladophialophora bantiana can infect tissues, including the brain, if it enters the human body. Experts believe the fungus protects itself by producing melanin, the pigment that determines the color of skin and hair, and that this characteristic may also help it cross the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain.

An infection in the brain can cause phaeohyphomycosis. During the process, pus and necrotic tissue accumulate in brain tissue, forming an abscess. Inflammation and increased pressure in the brain can cause severe headaches, nausea, and vomiting.

The cause of the sharp rise in infections has not yet been identified. Researchers suspect climate change is one of the main factors. The CDC says the fungus mainly lives in soil in subtropical or humid regions, and that people are believed to become infected by inhaling it. However, the exact route of infection and the reason for the recent increase in cases remain unclear.

The researchers said, “This fungus is rarely found in the natural environment, and patients have had varied exposure routes. Without a nationwide surveillance system, it is difficult to identify its habitats and routes of infection.” They also urged healthcare providers to pay attention to the recent rise in infections and closely monitor patients for brain abscesses or related symptoms.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.