Drug-Resistant Fungal Infection Confirmed in Illinois as Cases Rise Nationwide

SPRINGFIELD – Cases of a dangerous, drug-resistant fungus have been confirmed in at least 17 states so far this year, including Illinois. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1,000 cases of Candida auris have been confirmed across the country. Of those, 469 cases were in Midwestern states with Illinois seeing 25 cases. The fungus is a form of yeast that is usually not harmful to healthy people but can be a deadly risk to fragile hospital and nursing home patients.