Science
Aspergillus Fungus Threatens Millions As It Spreads Due To Climate Change, Scientists Warn
A lethal fungus that ‘eats you from the inside out’ is becoming more prevalent and could potentially impact millions of people.
Scientists warn that a deadly fungus that can decompose human body tissue is growing alarmingly throughout the United States and the rest of the world, and that climate change may cause it to spread even more in the years to come.
Because the Aspergillus group of fungi are airborne, they are nearly impossible to avoid, and their spores are so tiny that people may unknowingly inhale them.
People, plants, animals, and cattle are all impacted by the fungal mould, which grows best in warm, humid areas.
Inhaling the deadly poisonous spores can result in severe illnesses, including aspergillosis, which affects the lungs and can lead to organ failure and death in susceptible individuals.
In a recent study, a group of researchers from the University of Manchester warned that, within the next 15 years, climate change might make infections more likely and spread to new regions of North America, Europe, China, and Russia.
According to a research on infectious diseases published last year in The Lancet, fungal infections already claim the lives of over 2.5 million people annually, but the number may be significantly higher due to a lack of data collection.
Co-author of the new study, Norman van Rijn, added that fungi are “relatively under-researched compared to viruses and parasites,” and is difficult to diagnose, yet the research by the university team found “fungal pathogens will likely impact most areas of the world in the future.”
The health risks of inhaling fungal spores are particularly high for people with weakened immune systems, such as those with cancer, asthma, HIV, cystic fibrosis, and COPD, as well as those undergoing organ transplantation.
In such cases, the professor at the University of Manchester’s School of Biological Sciences said the fungus “starts to grow and basically kind of eat you from the inside out, saying it really bluntly,” reports CNN.
According to the Daily Mail, the deadly fungus has already been discovered in a number of US states, including Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.
Because of its farming industry and humid climate, California is reportedly the state with the most exposure.
Meanwhile, because of their ageing infrastructure and dense populations, large cities like New York and Los Angeles are in danger.
According to the researchers, Aspergillus flavus pathogens might rise by up to 16 percent and spread throughout the US, Europe, and beyond, endangering an additional one million individuals.
Additionally, nine million Europeans could be exposed if Aspergillus fumigatus increases by an alarming 77.5 percent.
Medical professionals advise those with compromised immune systems to stay away from dirt, gardening, and mouldy settings. They also advise wearing masks in dusty regions where fungi may develop.
Professor van Rhijn explained further to the Financial Times: “We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of lives, and continental shifts in species distributions.”
“In 50 years, where things grow and what you get infected by is going to be completely different.”
According to the researchers, fungi are “incredibly adaptable organisms,” which enables them to tolerate environmental changes and colonise new places. They have even been observed to exhibit resistance to antifungal treatments.
Rhijn added: “Changes in environmental factors, such as humidity and extreme weather events, will change habitats and drive fungal adaptation and spread.”
“Raising awareness and developing effective interventions for fungal pathogens will be essential to mitigate the consequences of this.”
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