Candida Auris Fungus cases rise

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - A drug-resistant fungus is on the rise, medical calling it an opportunistic infection and very serious.

While cases are on the rise, Yuma still has a clean bill of health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report earlier this week warning there are now more cases of Candida auris.

The fungus is resistant to drugs.

So far there have been 17 cases reported in Arizona but none of those cases are out of Yuma county.

Yuma Regional Medical Center shares with us those who are most vulnerable to potentially getting infected.

“Mostly this is found in hospitalized patients and nursing home patients especially those who have been in the hospital acutely sick for awhile or in ICU with multiple catheter or devices within the body," said Dr. Bharat Magu.

Our neighboring state of California has seen a reported 359 cases, and cases in 30 different countries worldwide.

“Specifically this strain for fungus this is now prevalent in 30 countries and potentially even more… the challenge is that it is hard to identify," said Dr. Bharat Magu.

Reports indicate that the largest cases are in Nevada, California, and Florida.

Despite the information, a local woman from Yuma, diagnosed with stage 4 cancer still takes additional precautions by choosing to stay home when she can rather than going out.

“I try not to, I just stay away cause I don’t have an immune system so if I get sick, I get sick," said Tammy Cantu, a cancer patient.

The CDC will continue to work with local and state health officials to address the emerging threat to public health.