Candida auris, a drug‑resistant fungus first detected in the U.S. in 2016, has been reported in 23 states in 2026. Texas leads with more than 700 cases and Michigan has reported 503 as of mid‑July. The CDC classifies C. auris as an urgent threat in health care settings because it can persist on surfaces, resist multiple antifungal drugs, and infect vulnerable patients via medical devices. A 2022–2024 review found 88% of clinical cases were in people over 45; past CDC data estimate 30–60% mortality among infected patients, often those with other serious illnesses.
Superbug Spreads to 23 States: Where Candida auris Is Rising in 2026
Superbug confirmed in 23 states: Where is the deadly fungus spreading in 2026?
The drug-resistant fungus Candida auris remains difficult to control in 2026, and new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data show the pathogen continuing to expand across the United States.
Current Spread and Case Counts
First identified in the U.S. in 2016, C. auris has spread rapidly in recent years. So far in 2026, cases have been reported in 23 states—nearly half of U.S. states. Texas has the largest reported total with more than 700 known cases as of mid‑July, and Michigan has reported 503 cases.
Why C. auris Is Concerning
Some strains of C. auris are resistant to multiple antifungal drug classes; a few are resistant to all commonly used antifungal medications, making them effectively untreatable with standard therapy. The fungus can persist on surfaces for long periods and spreads in health care settings via medical devices such as catheters, breathing tubes and intravenous lines.
Who Is Most At Risk
A review of cases from 2022–2024 found that about 88% of clinical C. auris infections occurred in people older than 45. Most infections were identified in acute-care settings, and a majority of patients were men. In hospitals and long-term care facilities, where patients are already ill or immunocompromised, C. auris infections can be deadly.
"If you get infected with this pathogen that's resistant to any treatment, there's no treatment we can give you to help combat it. You're all on your own," Melissa Nolan, assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of South Carolina, told Nexstar.
Mortality and Context
Based on limited data, the CDC has previously estimated that roughly 30–60% of people with C. auris infections have died. However, many of those patients had other serious underlying illnesses that also elevated their risk of death, so those figures do not represent mortality attributable solely to the fungus in otherwise healthy people.
How Health Care Facilities Respond
Hospitals and long‑term care facilities use enhanced infection-control practices to limit spread: rigorous environmental cleaning with agents effective against C. auris, screening and surveillance of high-risk patients, isolation or cohorting of affected individuals, careful management of medical devices, and strict hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE) use by staff.
What the Public Should Know
While C. auris poses a serious threat in medical settings, healthy people in the community are at low risk. If you or a loved one are hospitalized or in long‑term care, ask about infection‑control measures in place. Visitors and caregivers should practice hand hygiene and follow facility guidance to reduce transmission risk.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Nexstar reporting. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc.
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