The global burden and death toll of fungi has substantially climbed over the past decade, new research finds.
Dennings now estimates that 6.5 million invasive fungal infections and 3.8 million fungal-related deaths occur worldwide every year.
He also calculated that about 2.5 million of these deaths are directly attributable to fungi.
An Aspergillus mold under a microscope.Image: M-Production (Shutterstock)
While people are routinely sickened by viruses and bacteria, fungi are typically less suited to infect us.
But in recent decades, several factors have made these infections more common.
Fungal-related deaths that happen today are often linked to other health problems, Dennings notes.
But current diagnostics often fail to detect these infections even when doctors suspect their presence, he adds.
Scientists are working on developing new drugs and other avenues of prevention, such as vaccines.
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