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

Severe cases see the fungus eat flesh for nutrition' - and theres an urgent warning for NFL fans visiting the State Farm Stadium in Arizona for the Super Bowl

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The cordyceps fungus infects people in hit TV show The Last of Us(Image: HBO)

A dangerous fungal illness akin to the disease in hit TV series The Last of Use is spreading across parts of the US, doctors have warned.

The acclaimed HBO series has brought awareness to the growing threat of fungal infections.

There are a number of similarities between the real and fictionalised fevers, where the TV show hones in on a parasitic fungal infection, cordyceps, devastating mankind.

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Valley fever, also known as cocci, is a fungus which lives in soil in dusty areas.

It can be caught by inhaling fungal spores from soil thats typically kicked up in the air.

The illness shares many of the same symptoms as Covid-19, including a cough, difficulty breathing, fever, tiredness or fatigue.

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Inhaling dust and soil flicked up into the air may be a recipe for disaster (Image: Getty Images)

Most people experience mild illness, Dr Manish Butte, professor and immunologist at UCLA told USA Today.

But in rare cases, it can spread to other body parts and cause severe disease and destruction, as the fungus eats flesh as nutrition.

The fever can cause death in the worst-case scenarios.

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The Last of Us looks at a post-apocalyptic world devastated by a fungus(Image: 2023 Home Box Office, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Dr Brad Perkins, a former official at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, told Fox News that Valley fever is a significant cause of pneumonia.

He added: Most causes of pneumonia are caused by bacteria.

This is a fungus that lives in the soil and is breathed in dusty situations, whether it's a dust storm or around construction or excavation."

Prevention is challenging for those living in dusty areas - particularly those situated in California and Arizona, which are considered high-risk.

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Arizona, along with California, is one of the hubs of the fever(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The entire West has some Valley fever says Dr Perkins but the Southwest is particularly rife - including Washington State, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah.

"People concerned about their risk of developing Valley fever should try to avoid dusty situations, mostly in the summer and in peak heat," he said.

The Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chief is thought to be a risk for a spike in the illness.

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Visitors to the State Farm Stadium for the Super Bowl, beware! (Image: Matt York/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Hoards of fans are set to descent on a high-risk area in Arizona where the State Farm Stadium is situated.

Dr Perkins had a special warning for Super Bowl fans looking to do some extra exploring either side of the game.

He said: "If you're out hiking in the desert, you might want to give some consideration to your risk for development of Valley fever."

Valley fever could reach the border with Canada before the end of the century, estimated a study published in the journal GeoHealth.

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