New York Health Facilities Infected by New Superbug

A list released last week by the New York State Health Department reveals more than 170 health care facilities in the state have been impacted by the emerging drug-resistant fungus Candida auris, WABC-TV reports.

The list identified facilities that have treated patients with confirmed cases of the pathogen, which the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) included in a new report of increasing superbug threats. These facilities include 64 hospitals, 103 long-term care nursing homes, one long-term care hospital, and three hospice units.

Symptoms of a Candida auris infection include fever and fatigue. People with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to the infection and generally one of three patients who catch the superbug die, according to the CDC.

The fungus was unknow until 2013, when it appeared suddenly in various places around the globe and spread quickly. New York has had more cases of Candida auris than any other state. The emerging pathogen has forced hospitals to implement new sanitation requirements and infection control methods.