Climate change fuels the rise of deadly fungal diseases

WEB DESK: Climate change is significantly altering the distribution and characteristics of pathogenic fungi. This is leading to an alarming increase in fungal diseases worldwide.

Researchers warns that these adaptable and dangerous microorganisms pose a growing threat to public health. Yet many are not aware and not enough is being done by world governments.

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A study led by Justin Remais, a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, shifted focus from examining schistosomiasis to investigating cocciodioides immitis, the funger linked to the Valley fever.

The researcher explained that “limited surveillance has hindered our understanding of exposure and risk factors, but emerging evidence suggests climate change is playing a significant role”.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also recognised the severity of the issue. It released a list of fungal priority pathogens in 2022 to call for improved policies and research in the area.

Remais and his team are conducting a major study on the environmental epidemiology of fungal diseases, including the Valley fever.

The focus of the research is on climate sensitivity and social inequalities that may exacerbate the health discrepancies.

Projections indicate that Valley fever cases could rise significantly by 2100 as the geographic range and incidence of fungal diseases increase.

The adaptation of certain fungi to survive at warmer temperatures worsens the problem, as it makes them potential health threats.

One such fungal, Candida auris, has rapidly shown to be resistant to several medications and the fact it emerged on multiple continents suggests a pattern linked to climate change.

Extreme weather events such as tornadoes and hurricanes can also increase exposure to pathogenic fungi, leading to outbreaks of rare fungal infections.

Research indicates that social determinants of health, including living conditions and access to proper medical facilities, play a huge role in ethnic disparities in the risk of invasive fungal infections. 

The interplay between climate change, environmental disturbances and the rising threat of fungal diseases to human health is complex and requires comprehensive strategies to address the emerging threats.

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Scientists are calling for improved surveillance, access to protective measures and transdisciplinary approaches that will bring together epidemiologists, iconologists and environmental microbiologists to effectively predict and or event the spread of these deadly fungal infections.