Health officials report a rise in Candida auris cases across the United States. As of mid-July 2026, there are 3,130 confirmed infections spread across 23 states. This number is on track to surpass the 3,348 cases documented throughout all of 2025.
This fungus presents a major challenge in healthcare settings. It primarily impacts individuals who are already severely ill or those dependent on invasive medical devices like breathing tubes, feeding tubes, and catheters. The organism spreads easily between patients in these environments and often persists on surfaces.
What makes this pathogen concerning is its resistance profile. Many strains do not respond to standard antifungal treatments, including azoles. Some cases also show resistance to amphotericin B, a drug typically reserved for the most serious infections. Symptoms include fever, chills, lethargy, and low blood pressure.
Texas currently reports the highest concentration of cases with 706 confirmed infections, already exceeding the state total from the previous year. Michigan follows with 503 confirmed cases. Experts note that fungal infections are often overlooked compared to bacterial outbreaks, yet they remain difficult to diagnose and contain once established in a clinical setting.