Health

Detections of brain-infecting mold nearly quadrupled in U.S. between 2023 and 2025

Fox News reports that a CDC report counts 48 confirmed cases across 21 states and D.C., and says the reasons for the rise are unknown.

Updated Oct 17, 2026 · 00:20 UTC1 reports

The short version

Fox News reports that University of Washington lab data shows detections of the brain-infecting mold Cladophialophora bantiana nearly quadrupled from 2023 to 2025.[Fox News]
Researchers identified 48 confirmed and one probable case in 21 states and D.C. from 2009 to July 2026; about half of infections occurred in otherwise healthy people.[Fox News]
The CDC says annual cases reached 14 in 2025, and the reasons for the rise are unknown; a systematic review cites a 60% to 70% fatality rate, and the CDC is calling for national tracking.[Fox News]

Cladophialophora bantiana is a black yeast-like mold that can infect the brain and contains melanin, according to a CDC report.[Fox News]
University of Washington microbiology lab data shows detection of the fungus nearly quadrupled between 2023 and 2025.[Fox News]
Researchers identified 48 confirmed cases and one probable case in tissue samples from 21 states and the District of Columbia between January 2009 and July 2026.[Fox News]
The median patient age for C. bantiana infections was 68 years old.[Fox News]
About half of C. bantiana infections occur in otherwise healthy people.[Fox News]
A systematic review published in Medical Mycology associates the infection with a 60% to 70% fatality rate, even with aggressive medical intervention.[Fox News]
The CDC says annual C. bantiana cases surged to eight in 2024 and reached 14 in 2025.[Fox News]

The reasons for the apparent increase in cases are unknown, according to the CDC report.[Fox News]
The 60% to 70% fatality figure is attributed to a systematic review cited in the coverage, not to the CDC report itself.[Fox News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.