By Anuja Vaidya 

Candida auris, an emerging fungus infection, is on the rise worldwide, and in the U.S. the number of confirmed cases now totals 587, according to the CDC.

The CDC, which calls the fungus "a serious global health threat," reported that in 2019, 66 newly confirmed and probable cases of C. auris have emerged across the country. At the end of 2018, there were 551 confirmed and probable C. auris in the U.S.

C. auris is a type of yeast that can cause bloodstream, wound and ear infections. It is resistant to commonly used antifungal medications. C. auris spreads in healthcare settings in many ways, including through contact with contaminated environmental surfaces or equipment and from person to person.

The following three states have seen the highest number of C. auris cases as of Feb. 28:

● New York: 309

● Illinois: 144

● New Jersey: 104

C. auris cases have been reported among hospitalized patients around the world, including Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Germany, India and Israel, among others.

The first seven cases of C. auris were reported in the U.S. in 2016. In addition to the 617 confirmed and probably C. auris cases in the country, 1,056 patients were colonized with C. auris but did not show any symptoms.