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Deadly 'Last of Us' fungus' rapid spread poses 'global threat' - and drugs can't stop it

The 'rapid spread' of the Candida auris fungus may pose a 'serious' threat if infections aren't tamed - with its outbreak eerily mirroring that in HBO's The Last of US

[Fungus, The Last of Us, Candida auris, spread, CDC, cordyceps ]

(Image: HBO)

Experts are worried after the "alarming spread" of a deadly fungus may pose a serious global health threat.

The spread of Candida auris has eerie parallels to the HBO drama The Last of Us, where the real-life cordyceps fungus infects humans and unleashes a zombie apocalypse.

And infections of the fungus have skyrocketed in recent years.

READ MORE: Doctors warn of dangerous 'Last of Us' style fungal fever spreading across parts of US

There was a dramatic increase of cases in 2021 according to a report in the Annals of Internal Medicine published on Monday.

The first case of the infection was reported in the US in 2016. Its now been detected in 30 countries and more than half of the 50 United States.

[Fungus, The Last of Us, Candida auris, spread, CDC, cordyceps ]

Fungus Candida auris was spotted in one state in 2016 - but now it's spread to 50 (Image: Getty Images)

The number of cases almost doubled from 756 in 2020 to 1,471 in 2021.

Dr Meghan Lyman, chief medical officer of the CDC's mycotic diseases branch, said: We've seen increases not just in areas of ongoing transmission, but also in new areas.

Infections continue to climb with 2,377 clinical cases reported by the CDC in 2022.

The fungus can cause severe illness in people with weakened immune systems, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlined.

It can spread from person to person, or from interactions with contaminated surfaces.

The CDC said that the fungus presents a serious global health threat, with more than one in three patients with a Candida auris infection of the blood, heart or brain dying.

[Fungus, The Last of Us, Candida auris, spread, CDC, cordyceps ]

Candida auris infections were up by 95 per cent says the CDC (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The deadly fungus cannot be treated with traditional antifungal medications and the number of drug-resistant strains is reportedly on the rise.

Just like in The Last of Us, experts warned that warming temperatures have forced the fungus to mutate to its conditions.

Microbiologist Arturo Casadevall told the Washington Post: "This is how climate change or global warming can bring diseases because those in the environment have to adapt to survive and then have the capacity to survive in humans."

And while the spread of the fungus is worrisome, epidemiologist Dr Waleed Javaid said we won't turn into flesh-eating zombies.

He said: But we don't want people who watched 'The Last Of Us' to think we're all going to die.

[Fungus, The Last of Us, Candida auris, spread, CDC, cordyceps ]

Don't fret - you won't turn into a flesh eating zombie... yet(Image: HBO)

This is an infection that occurs in extremely ill individuals who are usually sick with a lot of other issues.

Dr Lyman concluded that the rapid rise and geographic spread of fungal infections is concerning and there is greater need for continued surveillance.

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