An alarming airborne fungus known as Aspergillus fumigatus is rapidly spreading throughout the United States, with experts warning that the situation may worsen as temperatures rise. This dangerous fungus, which can cause tissue decay, is virtually impossible to avoid as its spores are so tiny that people unknowingly inhale them. Particularly prevalent in warm and humid regions, the fungus is increasingly affecting states like Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, and California.

Aspergillus fumigatus can lead to a lung infection called aspergillosis, posing a severe threat to individuals with weakened immune systems, potentially resulting in organ failure and even death. Those with conditions such as cancer, asthma, or HIV are at a higher risk of infection.

Medical professionals recommend that individuals with compromised immune systems avoid exposure to soil, gardening, and mold, wear masks in dusty environments, and maintain clean air in their homes and healthcare facilities. Hospitals across the US are intensifying mold inspections and utilizing stronger antifungal medications to combat the spread of the fungus.

In addition to causing aspergillosis, Aspergillus fumigatus produces a toxin known as aflatoxin, which can lead to cancer and damage various organs including the lungs, liver, stomach, spleen, colon, and kidneys.

Experts warn that this fungus has the potential to alter plant growth patterns and the types of infections contracted by individuals over the next five decades, putting hundreds of thousands of lives at risk. Approximately 400,000 people develop chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, a long-term lung infection, with a more lethal form called invasive aspergillosis being less common but often fatal, particularly affecting those with weakened immune systems and potentially spreading to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys.

From 2000 to 2013, hospitalizations due to invasive aspergillosis in the US increased by approximately 3% annually, with nearly 15,000 hospital stays recorded in 2014, costing around $1.2 billion. Autopsies conducted in intensive care units reveal that aspergillosis is one of the top four infections contributing to mortality.

The World Health Organization has identified Aspergillus fumigatus as a major fungal threat due to its increasing drug resistance and high mortality rate. Thriving in warm and moist environments, the fungus can even survive in compost heaps exceeding 120°F. Climate change is creating more favorable conditions for the growth of this fungus within the human body, with projections indicating a potential 75% increase in spread by 2100 if current fossil fuel consumption continues.

Experts have expressed concerns that the excessive use of azoles, drugs commonly employed to treat fungal infections in humans and protect crops in agriculture, may be contributing to drug resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus. Studies have detected azole-resistant strains of the fungus in farm soil across seven US states, with many already resistant to standard antifungal medications. The mixing of various fungal strains is exacerbating the issue, particularly within US soil.

The World Health Organization is urging prompt action, the development of improved drugs, faster diagnostic tests, enhanced medical training, and increased focus on fungal diseases by pharmaceutical companies, including pediatric testing of new treatments.