A rare fungal infection that can infect the brain and cause a high fatality rate is on the rise across the United States, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The fungus, known as Cladophialophora bantiana (C. bantiana), is a black yeast-like mold that contains a dark pigment called melanin. Researchers at the University of Washington have found that detection of the fungus nearly quadrupled between 2023 and 2025, with 48 confirmed cases and one probable case identified in tissue samples from 21 states and the District of Columbia between January 2009 and July 2026.
Unlike many fungal infections, C. bantiana can affect people with healthy immune systems, with about half of the identified cases occurring in individuals without underlying health conditions. The fungus is believed to enter the body through inhalation or a skin wound, and then travel through the bloodstream to the brain.
The CDC report notes that 88% of cases were detected in brain tissue samples and 12% in lung tissue, suggesting that respiratory inhalation is a primary transmission mechanism. The fungus causes a severe infection associated with a 60% to 70% fatality rate, even with aggressive medical treatment.
Researchers are concerned about the sudden increase in cases, which surged from one to five cases per year between 2009 and 2023 to eight in 2024 and 14 in 2025. The CDC is calling for systematic national reporting mechanisms to better track the pathogen and understand the reasons behind the apparent increase.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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