Across the United States, a stealthy and formidable adversary is gaining ground—one that most Americans have never heard of, but which has healthcare officials deeply concerned. The drug-resistant fungus Candida auris continues its march through hospitals and long-term care facilities, with thousands of new infections reported in 2026. While the rate of increase has slowed since the pandemic-era surges, the fungus’s resilience and ability to spread silently make it a persistent threat, especially for those already fighting for their health.
According to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 3,544 clinical cases of Candida auris—often called C. auris—have been reported in 28 states as of August 1, 2026. That’s a slight decline from 4,262 cases at the same time last year, but experts caution that the numbers don’t tell the whole story. As Dr. Ulysses Wu of Hartford HealthCare explained to The Hartford Courant, “What has changed is the education and recognition around this drug-resistant fungus. I have no doubt it’s in every single state and a lot of facilities probably have it.”
First described in Japan in 2009 and identified in the U.S. in 2016, Candida auris has steadily expanded its reach. Between 2019 and 2021, 17 states reported their first-ever cases. The fungus is particularly worrisome because it’s resistant to multiple antifungal drugs, making infections difficult to treat. In fact, a CDC analysis of a 2022–2023 outbreak found that 95% of C. auris samples did not respond to fluconazole, a first-line antifungal treatment. Some strains have even shown resistance to echinocandins, another key class of antifungal medication, forcing doctors to combine several drugs in hopes of finding an effective therapy.
But what exactly is Candida auris, and who’s at risk? Unlike some other Candida species that naturally live on our bodies, C. auris is not a typical resident. It most commonly spreads in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes, where patients are already vulnerable. Those with severe underlying conditions, especially people who require invasive medical devices like breathing tubes, feeding tubes, or catheters, face the highest risk. As the CDC notes, “Most patients who become sick with C. auris were already very sick.”
The symptoms of a C. auris infection can vary, depending on where the fungus takes hold. Some people may experience superficial skin infections, while others develop life-threatening bloodstream infections that can lead to sepsis. Fever, chills, lethargy, low blood pressure, high heart rate, and even ear pain or fullness are all possible signs. However, not everyone who carries the fungus gets sick. Many people—especially those in long-term care facilities—can be colonized by C. auris without any symptoms, unknowingly spreading it to others or to surfaces around them.
This silent spread is part of what makes the fungus so difficult to control. The CDC tracks both clinical cases (where the patient is ill) and screening detections, which identify people colonized by the fungus but not sick. As of August 1, 2026, there have been 3,325 screening detections nationwide. Colonized individuals can shed the fungus onto door handles, counters, and medical equipment, where it can survive for long periods and resist many common disinfectants. As Caller Times in Texas reported, “The fungus can survive on surfaces like door handles and counters and is difficult to disinfect.”
Geographically, California leads the nation in clinical cases this year, with 887 reported. The Pacific region as a whole—including Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington—has seen 886 cumulative cases, according to USA TODAY Network. The South is also heavily affected: Texas has reported 438 clinical cases as of August 5, 2026, with particularly high numbers in the Coastal Bend and Rio Grande Valley. Tennessee and Georgia follow with 293 and 193 cases, respectively. The Midwest states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin collectively account for 751 cases, with Indiana alone reporting 92 as of late July. In the Northeast, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have reported 55 and 131 cases, respectively, while Connecticut saw 12 cases in 2024 and New York reported 460 that same year.
One reason for the apparent uptick in cases, experts say, is improved detection and awareness. Dr. Wu likens it to the increased diagnosis of autism: “We have become better at diagnosing autism and neurodivergence. Candida auris is becoming more common because we are now looking for it.” Dr. David Calfee, chief epidemiologist at Yale New Haven Health, adds that “initially it was difficult to detect and misidentified in the past, but more laboratories are able to detect it now allowing for better monitoring.”
Still, the rising numbers are cause for concern, especially given the fungus’s drug resistance and the high mortality rates seen in some studies—ranging from 30% to over 60%. Determining the exact toll is tricky, since most patients who die while infected with C. auris already have serious health problems. As the CDC puts it, “When patients with C. auris die, it is hard to know how much C. auris contributed to their death compared to other pre-existing illnesses.”
Fortunately, healthy people are generally not at risk. The CDC reassures that “good immune systems typically fight off the fungus easily,” and most healthy individuals do not carry C. auris on their bodies. Transmission is not airborne, like with influenza or COVID-19, but occurs through direct contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces and equipment. That means cleaning, sterilization, and hand hygiene are crucial in healthcare environments. Hospitals and long-term care facilities are stepping up protocols, from routine screening of high-risk patients to rigorous disinfection practices. “Proper sanitation, sterilization, hygiene and, when necessary, isolation, can help stop the spread,” notes USA TODAY Network.
For patients and families, vigilance is key. Experts recommend that patients ask healthcare providers to wash their hands before touching them or their medical devices, and for everyone—patients, visitors, and staff—to practice regular hand hygiene. Patients should also inform their care teams about any previous C. auris infections or screening results, to help prevent spread and ensure early intervention.
As the U.S. approaches the 2025 full-year total of 4,290 cases before the end of 2026, it’s clear that C. auris is here to stay. While the fungus remains primarily a challenge for healthcare settings, its ability to evade drugs and spread silently makes continued vigilance, research, and public awareness critical. For now, the fight against this “superbug” is a marathon, not a sprint—but with knowledge, hygiene, and robust infection control, the nation’s healthcare workers are determined not to let it win.