A dangerous drug-resistant fungus is spreading “rapidly” through hospitals across Europe, according to a new report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
The fungus, Candidozyma auris (C. auris), can survive on hospital surfaces and medical equipment, making it difficult to control. Many common disinfectants don’t kill it, and infections can be serious for patients already in poor health.
The ECDC recorded more than 4,000 cases across the EU and nearby countries between 2013 and 2023, with sharp increases in recent years. Spain, Greece, Italy, Romania, and Germany reported the highest numbers, while Cyprus and France have also seen recent outbreaks.
Officials warn the true toll is likely underreported, as fewer than half of European countries track cases nationally. Once C. auris appears in a country, experts say it often becomes widespread within a few years.
Superbugs like C. auris highlight the growing threat of drug-resistant infections, which could turn routine illnesses into deadly conditions. But what, exactly, is this crisis that humans are facing? And what is being done to stop it? Click through this gallery to find out.