Fears next pandemic could be ‘lingering’ fungus similar to the Black Death
Officials have shared their thoughts on the virus that could cause the world to go into meltdown in the next global pandemic.
Top scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that we should be cautious of a type of yeast which has already hospitalised people across the world.
It's said that the yeast can enter the bloodstream before spreading throughout the body and later causing severe infections.
The type of fungus [Candida Auris] doesn't respond to antifungal medications that are commonly used to treat such infections, therefore making it deadly.
It's been confirmed by the CDC that the infection is normally diagnosed following blood tests although it can be harder to identify, meaning specialist lab tests are required to confirm a diagnosis.
Reports by the scientists claim that patients who have been hospitalised for a lengthy period of time or have tubes such as feeding tubes, breathing tubes and central venous catheters entering their body are those who face the highest risk of infection.
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The document states that it can cause bloodstream infections, ear infections and wound infections.
Candida Auris is believed to be so tough, it can stay on common surfaces for much longer than other infections.
London's Imperial College epidemiologist Johanna Rhodes said that it can "withstand whatever you throw at it".
Rhodes first encountered the fungus in 2016 when there was an outbreak in England, noting that it's ability to resist drug treatment could see it cause the next global pandemic.
The deadly virus has since been likened to the Black Death.
The virus was first identified in Japan back in 2009, with it later emerging that strains had dated back to as early as 1996 in South Korea.
Doctor Tom Chiller from the CDC said: "It is a creature from the black lagoon. It bubbled up and now it is everywhere."
As it stands, Candida Auris has been identified in over 30 countries across the globe, including America, United Arab Emirates, Spain and the United Kingdom.
CDC chiefs say that around 30-60 per cent of patients with Candida Auris have died, yet some of these had other illnesses before contracting the virus.
It's believed that the virus can spread through the healthcare sector, contaminated surfaces or work equipment, or from person to person.
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