A drug-resistant fungus that health officials have labeled an "urgent antimicrobial resistance (AR) threat" has been detected in nearly two dozen states this year, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The latest CDC figures show that Candida auris screenings had been reported across multiple states as of the week ending July 25, 2026. Twenty-three states have reported at least one screening case in 2026, with the fungus having spread across every major U.S. region.

Texas has reported 715 cases, the highest number, followed by Michigan with 518 cases and 379 cases in Illinois.

What Is Candida Auris?

Candida auris is a kind of yeast, which is a type of fungus. In some cases, it can cause serious illness, and some strains are resistant to multiple drugs, in turn, making them hard to treat. The most common spread of the fungus occurs in hospitals or long-term care facilities. People with healthy immune systems don’t tend to get sick from it, but they can transmit it to others.

It was first reported in the U.S. in 2016 and, over the past several years, has spread rapidly.

Where Is Candida Auris Spreading?

The states reporting Candida auris screening cases in 2026 are: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin.

Arkansas and Montana have both reported screenings but had no cumulative cases recorded in the latest data.

Texas has recorded the largest number of screenings this year, with 715 reported through late July. Michigan follows with 518, while Illinois has reported 379 and Ohio 219. Other states with triple-digit totals include: Nevada (166), New Jersey (166), Arizona (151), Maryland (184) and Virginia (119).

The CDC noted in its report that weekly surveillance figures are provisional and may be revised as state and local health departments update reports.

A CDC review examining cases of Candida auris between 2022 and 2024 found that almost nine out of 10 clinical infections occurred in people aged 45 years and older. Most patients were receiving care in acute health care settings, where the fungus is most likely to spread.

Health officials emphasize that in order to prevent the spread of the fungus, rapid detection, screening programs, and infection-control measures in hospitals and long-term care facilities are important.

What Are the Symptoms of Candida Auris?

The symptoms of a Candida auris infection are dependent on where the fungus infects your body, according to the Cleveland Clinic, but can include:

• Chills
• Extreme tiredness
• Fever
• Low blood pressure
• Low body temperature
• High heart rate
• Pain, pressure or a full feeling inside of the ear

Because people who get a Candida auris infection are often already seriously ill, symptoms may not be noticeable, and many people carrying it don’t have symptoms, but can still pass it to somebody else.

Candida auris spreads from person to person and from contaminated surfaces.

In a healthcare environment, infections can also pass through contaminated medical equipment and can be transmitted through a medical device in your body, like catheters, IVs and breathing tubes.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Cannon and Sam Wilson.