Rare Brain Fungus Cases Rise 210% in US, CDC Reports

A rare brain-infecting fungus, Cladophialophora bantiana, is showing a sharp rise in U.S. detections, with a 60-70% historical fatality rate and the ability to infect healthy people, according to a new CDC and University of Washington report. The study identified 49 infections from 2009 to July 2026 across 21 states, with annual cases jumping from one to five before 2024 to eight in 2024 and 14 in 2025. Researchers controlled for increased testing and found the detection rate per 1,000 samples rose 210% by 2025, suggesting the increase is real, though the reason remains unknown. Scientists suspect inhalation or skin wounds as entry routes, with 88% of cases found in brain tissue. While climate change is a possible factor, no evidence links it directly. Experts call for systematic national data collection to better understand the true disease burden.